Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

स्वानेव नान्यान्देवस्य दिव्येनाज्ञाबलेन वै । वागादीन्यपि यान्यासंस्तानि कर्मेन्द्रियाणि च

Transliteration

svāneva nānyāndevasya divyenājñābalena vai | vāgādīnyapi yānyāsaṃstāni karmendriyāṇi ca

Translation

देवाच्या दिव्य आज्ञाबळाने ते आपापल्या क्षेत्रातच राहिले, दुसऱ्यात नाही. तसेच वाणी इत्यादी जे होते, ते कर्मेंद्रिये झाले.

Word by Word

• svān: one’s own
• svān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (understood with indriyān/objects)

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Emphasis (निपात-बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात, अव्यय

• na: not
• na: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (negative particle)

• anyān: others
• anyān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• devasya: of the Lord
• devasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• divyena: divine
• divyena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (with ājñābalena)

• ājñā-balena: by the power of (his) command
• ājñā-balena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('आज्ञायाः बलम्')

• vai: indeed
• vai: Emphasis (निपात-बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• vāk-ādīni: speech etc.
• vāk-ādīni: Karma/Topic (कर्म/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (list marker: 'speech etc.')

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात, अव्यय

• yāni: which
• yāni: Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/यत्-तत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• āsan: were
• āsan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as/अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• tāni: those
• tāni: Anvaya/Topic (सम्बन्ध/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; यत्-तत्-सम्बन्धे तत्

• karma-indriyāṇi: organs of action
• karma-indriyāṇi: Pradhāna/Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('कर्मणि प्रवर्तकानि इन्द्रियाणि')

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: niyati (cosmic regulation): indriyas confined to their own viṣaya-spheres; karmendriyas differentiated

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Shiva as Pati—the supreme governor whose divine ordinance assigns each power its proper function. Spiritual life begins when speech and action are kept within their rightful limits and offered back to the Lord rather than scattered into uncontrolled activity.

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

In Linga-worship, the devotee trains speech (mantra, stotra) and action (puja, seva) to move in an ordered, sanctified way. The verse supports Saguna upasana by showing that the Lord’s manifest governance makes disciplined worship effective and purifying.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice restraint and consecration of speech through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and align actions with Shiva-dharma—simple daily puja, cleanliness, and mindful conduct—so the karmendriyas remain “in their own spheres.”