Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 78

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

सर्वगंधमयं वाथ लिंगं कुर्याद्यथारुचि । व्रतावसानसमये समाचरितनित्यकः

Transliteration

sarvagaṃdhamayaṃ vātha liṃgaṃ kuryādyathāruci | vratāvasānasamaye samācaritanityakaḥ

Translation

പിന്നീട് തന്റെ ഇഷ്ടപ്രകാരം എല്ലാ സുഗന്ധദ്രവ്യങ്ങളാലും സുഗന്ധിതമായ ലിംഗവും നിർമ്മിക്കണം. വ്രതാവസാന സമയത്ത് നിത്യകർമ്മങ്ങൾ വിധിപൂർവം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച് ശേഷം കർമ്മം തുടരുക.

Word by Word

• sarva-gandha-mayam: made of all perfumes/fragrances
• sarva-gandha-mayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + gandha + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'made of all fragrances' qualifying liṅgam

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• atha: then/or else
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अनन्तर/विकल्प/प्रस्तावक अव्यय); here: 'or else/then'

• liṅgam: liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kuryāt: should make
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ, धातु)
• Form: Optative/Potential (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• yathā-ruci: as desired
• yathā-ruci: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ruci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound functioning as adverb; sense: 'according to (one's) liking'

• vrata-avasāna-samaye: at the time of concluding the vow
• vrata-avasāna-samaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata + avasāna + samaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); 'at the time of the vow's conclusion'

• samācarita-nityakaḥ: one who has duly performed the daily observances
• samācarita-nityakaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√car (चर्, धातु) + nityaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (कृत्: क्त) samācarita = 'performed/observed' + nityaka = 'daily duties'; adjective for the doer (implied sādhakaḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Connects vrata to completion-rite (vratāvasāna): disciplined daily nitya-karmas culminate in a fragrant, aesthetically complete offering—symbolizing purification of the pashu and readiness for grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Vrata-closure moment (ritual ‘threshold time’) after completion of daily obligatory rites (nitya-karman).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that a vow (vrata) is completed through purity, disciplined daily duties (nitya-karma), and a devotional offering to Shiva in the form of Liṅga worship—uniting inner restraint with outer reverence.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse explicitly prescribes preparing a Liṅga and honoring it with fragrance, highlighting Saguna worship where the formless Lord (Pati) is approached through a sacred emblem that concentrates devotion and ritual attentiveness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests concluding a vrata only after completing daily disciplines, then performing Liṅga-pūjā with fragrant substances—ideally accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).