Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

महाभूतान्यशेषाणि भावयंत्यनुपूर्वशः । ब्रह्मादीनां तृणान्तानां देहिनां देहसंगतिम्

Transliteration

mahābhūtānyaśeṣāṇi bhāvayaṃtyanupūrvaśaḥ | brahmādīnāṃ tṛṇāntānāṃ dehināṃ dehasaṃgatim

Translation

അശേഷമായ മഹാഭൂതങ്ങൾ ക്രമാനുസൃതമായി ദേഹികളിലെ ദേഹസംഗതി സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നു—ബ്രഹ്മാവിൽ നിന്ന് തൃണം വരെ എല്ലാവർക്കും।

Word by Word

• महाभूतानि: the great elements
• महाभूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (महानि भूतानि)

• अशेषाणि: all/entire
• अशेषाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of महाभूतानि)

• भावयन्ति: cause/bring about
• भावयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) [णिच् causative: भावयति]
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• अनुपूर्वशः: in due order, successively
• अनुपूर्वशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुपूर्वशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ब्रह्मादीनाम्: of those beginning with Brahmā
• ब्रह्मादीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मा आदिः येषाम्)

• तृणान्तानाम्: ending with grass (down to grass)
• तृणान्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृण + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (तृणं अन्तः येषाम्)

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• देहसंगतिम्: embodiment / union with a body
• देहसंगतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह + संगति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (देहस्य संगतिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It explains how embodied existence arises through the orderly functioning of the five great elements, highlighting the Shaiva insight that the soul (paśu) becomes conditioned by bodily formation and thus needs the grace of Pati (Shiva) for liberation.

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

By describing the elemental basis of all bodies, the verse points to Saguna Shiva as the Lord who governs tattvas and karma; Linga-worship centers the seeker on Shiva beyond elemental limitation while honoring His immanence as the ruler of creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-vicāra (contemplation on the elements and the body’s impermanence) combined with japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to turn awareness from elemental embodiment toward Shiva, the liberating Lord.