Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

यतश्श्रुत्वामृतं लब्धं ब्रह्मणा परमेश्वरात् । ततस्तद्वदनादेव मया लब्धं तपोबलात्

Transliteration

yataśśrutvāmṛtaṃ labdhaṃ brahmaṇā parameśvarāt | tatastadvadanādeva mayā labdhaṃ tapobalāt

Translation

പരമേശ്വരൻ (ശിവൻ) നിന്നു ശ്രവണം ചെയ്ത് ബ്രഹ്മാവ് അമൃതസമമായ അമരജ്ഞാനം നേടി. തുടർന്ന് ബ്രഹ്മാവിന്റെ തന്നെ വദനത്തിൽ നിന്നു ഞാൻ തപോബലത്താൽ അതേ അമൃതം പ്രാപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• yataḥ: from which; because of which
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), सम्बन्धार्थक-निपातः/सम्बन्धबोधकः (relative adverb: 'from which/wherefrom')

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (having heard)

• amṛtam: nectar; immortality
• amṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• labdham: obtained
• labdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (agreeing with amṛtam)

• brahmaṇā: by Brahmā
• brahmaṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• parameśvarāt: from the Supreme Lord
• parameśvarāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• tataḥ: then; thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then; thereafter)

• tat: that (knowledge/thing)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vadanāt: from (his) mouth; from utterance
• vadanāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• eva: indeed; just
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• labdham: obtained
• labdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (agreeing with tat)

• tapaḥ-balāt: from the power of austerity
• tapaḥ-balāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'tapasya bala'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (inferential, Vāyavīyasaṃhitā philosophical narration lineage: Śiva → Brahmā → the sage-speaker through tapas)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-legend; the verse frames the guru-paramparā of Śiva’s upadeśa: Śiva → Brahmā → sage-speaker (via tapas).

Significance: Establishes śravaṇa (hearing) and guru-mukha transmission as salvific means—pilgrimage of knowledge rather than place.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: jñāna-pravāha (transmission of liberating knowledge) initiating ordered creation and liberation-knowledge in the cosmos

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva (Parameśvara) as the primal source of liberating knowledge (amṛta), received through śravaṇa (sacred hearing) and made fruitful through tapas—highlighting grace and disciplined receptivity in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

Though it speaks of knowledge transmission, it supports Saguna Śiva worship by affirming Parameśvara as the personal revealer of truth; Linga worship is a principal Shaiva means to approach that revealer with devotion, leading to the same amṛta of realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa of Shiva-kathā and guru-upadeśa, supported by tapas (vows, japa, fasting such as Mahāśivarātri vrata); practically, steady mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī) with purity disciplines aligns with the verse’s teaching.