Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 48

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

बटोः केनचिदर्थेन स्वाश्रितस्य गतायुषः । त्वरयागत्य देवेन पादांतं गमितोन्तकः

Transliteration

baṭoḥ kenacidarthena svāśritasya gatāyuṣaḥ | tvarayāgatya devena pādāṃtaṃ gamitontakaḥ

Translation

स्वाश्रित त्या बटूच्या एका कारणासाठी—ज्याचे आयुष्य संपले होते—अंतक (यम) घाईने आला; पण देवाने त्याला आपल्या चरणांपाशी पाडून निष्प्रभ केले.

Word by Word

• baṭoḥ: of the boy (brahmacārin)
• baṭoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: baṭu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• kenacit: by/with someone
• kenacit: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim + cit (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रश्नवाचक (indefinite)

• arthena: for some purpose, by a reason
• arthena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• sva-āśritasya: of (one) who had taken refuge in him/one’s own dependent
• sva-āśritasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + āśrita (कृदन्त; √śri श्रि + क्त)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष (स्वं आश्रितः)

• gata-āyuṣaḥ: of (him) whose lifespan had ended
• gata-āyuṣaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त; √gam गम् + क्त) + āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष (गतं आयुः यस्य)

• tvarayā: with haste
• tvarayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• āgatya: having come
• āgatya: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्, धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having come’

• devena: by the god (Śiva)
• devena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• pāda-antam: to the foot-end, to the feet
• pāda-antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पादस्य अन्तः)

• gamitaḥ: was brought/led
• gamitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gamita (कृदन्त; √gam गम् + णिच् causative + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP), कर्मणि-प्रयोग ‘having been made to go/brought’

• antakaḥ: Death (Yama)
• antakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha

Sthala Purana: The Vaidyanātha (Deoghar) complex is strongly linked in later purāṇic/folk memory to Rāvaṇa’s devotion and Śiva’s granting/withholding boons; this verse’s theme—Śiva overriding death for a refuge-seeker—aligns with ‘Vaidya’ Śiva as healer who rescues from mṛtyu.

Significance: Śiva as Vaidya grants protection from untimely death and alleviates afflictions; pilgrims seek ārogya and longevity through abhiṣeka and japa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: mahamrityunjaya

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Yama
• Antaka

FAQs

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

It teaches śaraṇāgati: when the pashu (individual soul) takes refuge in Pati (Shiva), even the force of death becomes subordinate; Shiva’s grace overrides karmic finality and turns fear into surrender at His feet.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord who intervenes for devotees; Linga-worship expresses this refuge—approaching Shiva’s presence so that limiting powers (like Yama) lose authority over the surrendered heart.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily Shiva-śaraṇāgati with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and inner remembrance of Shiva’s feet (pāda-smaraṇa), reinforcing trust in grace beyond fear of death.