Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

षडध्व-शुद्धिः

Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path

Devanagari script

अवगुंठ्याथ तत्सूत्रं शिष्यदेहं विचिंतयेत् । मूलत्रयमयं पाशं भोगभोग्यत्वलक्षणम्

Transliteration

avaguṃṭhyātha tatsūtraṃ śiṣyadehaṃ viciṃtayet | mūlatrayamayaṃ pāśaṃ bhogabhogyatvalakṣaṇam

Translation

അനന്തരം ആ യജ്ഞോപവീതം മൂടി, ശിഷ്യന്റെ ദേഹത്തെ പാശരൂപമായി ധ്യാനിക്കണം. അത് മൂന്ന് മൂല മലങ്ങൾ (ആണവ, മായീയ, കാർമ) കൊണ്ടുണ്ടായതും ഭോക്താവും ഭോഗ്യവും എന്ന ഇരുഭാവലക്ഷണത്താൽ ചിഹ്നിതവുമാണ്।

Word by Word

• अवगुंठ्य: having veiled / covered
• अवगुंठ्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुंठ्/गुठ् (धातु) with अव उपसर्ग
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), from √गुंठ् ‘to cover/veil’ with ava; ‘having covered/veiled’

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/अन्वय (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रमसूचक (sequencing particle)

• तत्-सूत्रम्: that thread
• तत्-सूत्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म; ‘that thread’

• शिष्य-देहम्: the disciple’s body
• शिष्य-देहम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म; ‘the disciple’s body’

• विचिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• विचिन्तयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु) with वि उपसर्ग
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; √चिन्त् ‘to contemplate’ with vi; ‘should contemplate’

• मूल-त्रय-मयम्: made of the three roots
• मूल-त्रय-मयम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् पाशम्; ‘consisting of the three roots’

• पाशम्: bond, noose
• पाशम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• भोग-भोग्यत्व-लक्षणम्: characterized by enjoyer/enjoyed-ness
• भोग-भोग्यत्व-लक्षणम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित-प्रत्यय) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् पाशम्; ‘having the characteristic of enjoyer-and-enjoyed-ness’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva yogic/ritual teaching in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the human embodiment as pāśa (bondage): the soul, due to the three primal impurities, is trapped in duality as both experiencer (bhoktā) and experienced object (bhogya). Recognizing this bondage is the first step toward seeking Pati (Shiva) for release.

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

By identifying the body-mind complex as bondage, the verse implicitly directs the seeker to take refuge in Shiva as Pati. Linga/Saguna Shiva worship becomes a practical means to purify the impurities and transcend the enjoyer–enjoyed split through devotion and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A visualization practice: veil/cover the thread and contemplate the disciple’s embodied state as pāśa arising from the three impurities. This supports inner detachment and prepares one for Shaiva purification disciplines (mantra-japa, worship, and yogic contemplation).