Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

तत्र पूर्वं त्रयोदश्यां सुस्नातः सुकृताह्निकः । अनुज्ञाप्य स्वमाचार्यं संपूज्य प्रणिपत्य च

Transliteration

tatra pūrvaṃ trayodaśyāṃ susnātaḥ sukṛtāhnikaḥ | anujñāpya svamācāryaṃ saṃpūjya praṇipatya ca

Translation

ସେଠାରେ ପ୍ରଥମେ ତ୍ରୟୋଦଶୀ ଦିନ, ଭଲଭାବେ ସ୍ନାନ କରି ନିତ୍ୟକର୍ମ ବିଧିପୂର୍ବକ ସମାପ୍ତ କରି, ନିଜ ଆଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟଙ୍କ ଅନୁମତି ନେବ; ପରେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପୂଜା କରି ଭକ୍ତିରେ ପ୍ରଣାମ କରିବ।

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: ‘there’)

• pūrvam: first, beforehand
• pūrvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative: ‘first/beforehand’)

• trayodaśyām: on the thirteenth (lunar day)
• trayodaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trayodaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• su-snātaḥ: well-bathed
• su-snātaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √snā (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; उपसर्ग ‘सु-’

• su-kṛta-āhnikaḥ: having duly performed daily rites
• su-kṛta-āhnikaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + kṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ धातु, क्त) + āhnika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सुकृतम् आह्निकं यस्य/सुकृताह्निकः’ (one whose daily rites are well-performed)

• anujñāpya: having sought permission
• anujñāpya: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√jñā (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय/absolutive)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having requested/obtained permission’

• svam: one's own
• svam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ācāryam: teacher, preceptor
• ācāryam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• saṃpūjya: having worshipped
• saṃpūjya: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-√pūj (धातु) + ल्यप् (absolutive)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): ‘having worshipped’

• praṇipatya: having prostrated
• praṇipatya: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु) + ल्यप् (absolutive)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): ‘having bowed down’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction: ‘and’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights guru-śaraṇāgati as prerequisite for higher Śaiva observance; proper preparation (snāna, āhnika) and teacher’s consent stabilize the sādhaka’s path.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Acharya (Guru)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva discipline of purification and right conduct: bodily purity (bathing), faithful performance of daily duties, and humility before the guru—preparing the seeker for Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and higher worship.

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

Before approaching Saguna Shiva worship (such as Linga-puja), the devotee aligns with dharma—cleanliness, prescribed rites, and reverence to the guru—so the external ritual becomes an inner offering rather than mere formality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical sequence is implied: bathe, complete āhnika (sandhyā and daily observances), seek the guru’s sanction, offer respectful worship to the teacher, and then proceed to Shiva worship or vrata with a surrendered mind.