Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

खेचरा ऋषयस्सिद्धा भोगिनो मनुजा मृगाः । पशवः पक्षिणश्चैव कीटाद्याः स्थावराणि च

Transliteration

khecarā ṛṣayassiddhā bhogino manujā mṛgāḥ | paśavaḥ pakṣiṇaścaiva kīṭādyāḥ sthāvarāṇi ca

Translation

ആകാശചരന്മാർ, ഋഷികൾ, സിദ്ധന്മാർ; ഭോഗികൾ (നാഗങ്ങൾ), മനുഷ്യർ, മൃഗങ്ങൾ; പശുക്കളും പക്ഷികളും; കൂടാതെ കീടാദികളും സ്ഥാവരങ്ങളും—ഇവയൊക്കെയും (ജീവവർഗങ്ങൾ) ഉൾപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• खेचराः: sky-goers (celestial beings)
• खेचराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (khe caranti iti)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सिद्धाः: perfected beings
• सिद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भोगिनः: serpents (nāgas)/enjoyers
• भोगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मनुजाः: humans
• मनुजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मृगाः: animals/deer
• मृगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पशवः: beasts/cattle
• पशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पक्षिणः: birds
• पक्षिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Niyama (नियम/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कीटाद्याः: insects and the like
• कीटाद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीट + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (kīṭāḥ ādayaḥ yeṣām) / ‘kīṭa-ādi’ group

• स्थावराणि: immovables (plants etc.)
• स्थावराणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a sthala-purāṇa passage; it functions as a sarva-vyāpti (all-inclusion) catalogue of embodied orders of beings under Śiva’s lordship.

Significance: Supports the contemplative insight that all jīvas—celestial, human, animal, and vegetal—are Paśu dependent on Pati; fosters universal compassion and non-sectarian reverence.

FAQs

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

It enumerates the full spectrum of embodied existence—moving and unmoving—implying that all are within Shiva’s lordship (Pati) and that bondage and grace can pertain to every order of being, a key Shaiva Siddhanta framing of pashu (the bound soul).

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

By presenting all categories of life as encompassed in creation, it supports the Purana’s teaching that Saguna Shiva—worshipped as the Linga—receives devotion offered for the welfare of all beings and grants upliftment according to their capacity and karma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is universalized Shiva-bhakti: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offering prayers with compassion for all beings, paired with simple Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and mindful restraint (ahiṃsā).