Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 77

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

हैमाभावे राजतं वा ताम्रजं शैलजन्तथा । मृन्मयं वा यथालाभं जातुषं चान्यदेव वा

Transliteration

haimābhāve rājataṃ vā tāmrajaṃ śailajantathā | mṛnmayaṃ vā yathālābhaṃ jātuṣaṃ cānyadeva vā

Translation

ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ନଥିଲେ ରୌପ୍ୟ, କିମ୍ବା ତାମ୍ର, କିମ୍ବା ଶୈଳଜ (ପଥର)ର ମଧ୍ୟ (ଲିଙ୍ଗ) ହୋଇପାରେ; କିମ୍ବା ଯଥାଲାଭ ମୃଣ୍ମୟ, କିମ୍ବା ଲାକ୍ଷା/ରଜନ (ରେଜିନ)ମୟ—ଅଥବା ଅନ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ଯୋଗ୍ୟ ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ।

Word by Word

• haima-abhāve: in the absence of gold
• haima-abhāve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haima + abhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); 'in absence of gold'

• rājatam: silver (made of silver)
• rājatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'silver-made' (for liṅgam)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• tāmrajam: copper-made
• tāmrajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmra + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'born of copper' = made of copper

• śailajam: stone-made
• śailajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaila + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'born of rock' = stone-made

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adder)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• mṛnmayam: clay-made
• mṛnmayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛd + maya (प्रातिपदिक); mṛd (मृद्) + maya (मय)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'made of clay'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• yathā-lābham: as available
• yathā-lābham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound functioning as adverb; accusative-form lābham frozen in compound; sense: 'according to availability'

• jātuṣam: made of lac/resin
• jātuṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jātuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'lac/resin-made'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• anyat: other
• anyat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Codifies graded accessibility (gold→silver→copper→stone→clay→resin): Śiva’s grace is not restricted by wealth; the pashu’s bondage is loosened by steady worship, not luxury.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva accepts worship grounded in bhakti and right intention; the sanctity of Linga-upasana is not limited by wealth, because the devotee’s sincerity is primary.

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

It directly concerns Saguna Shiva worship through the Linga, stating that the Linga (or worship-support) may be fashioned from various materials—gold, silver, copper, stone, clay, resin—according to availability, affirming accessibility of Linga devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform Linga-puja with whatever pure material is obtainable, maintaining mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) and devotional focus rather than delaying worship for lack of costly items.