Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

भावातिशयलब्धेन प्रसादेन मलक्षयः । क्षीणे चात्ममले तस्मिन् पुमाञ्च्छिवसमो भवेत्

Transliteration

bhāvātiśayalabdhena prasādena malakṣayaḥ | kṣīṇe cātmamale tasmin pumāñcchivasamo bhavet

Translation

భక్తి యొక్క అత్యుత్కర్షముతో లభించిన ప్రసాదముచేత మలక్షయము కలుగును. ఆ ఆత్మమలము క్షీణించినప్పుడు జీవుడు శివసముడై (స్వభావతః శుద్ధుడు, స్వతంత్రుడు) అవుతాడు।

Word by Word

• भावातिशयलब्धेन: by (a grace) obtained through intensity of devotion
• भावातिशयलब्धेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भावातिशय + लब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-समर्थ, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—(भावस्य अतिशयः) + लब्धः (तत्पुरुषः; ‘भावातिशयेन लब्धः’ इत्यर्थे)

• प्रसादेन: by grace/favor
• प्रसादेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मलक्षयः: destruction of impurity
• मलक्षयः: Karta/Result (कर्ता/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—मलस्य क्षयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• क्षीणे: when (it is) destroyed
• क्षीणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षी (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (Past Passive Participle) ‘क्षीण’; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; नपुंसक/पुं-समर्थ; सति-सप्तमी प्रयोग

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• आत्ममले: in the impurity of the self
• आत्ममले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—आत्मनः मलः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• तस्मिन्: in that (state)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; संकेत-सर्वनाम

• पुमान्: a man/person
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शिवसमः: equal to Śiva
• शिवसमः: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—शिवेन समः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General siddhāntic fruit: prasāda leading to mala-kṣaya and śiva-sāmya (liberation through grace).

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation arises when Shiva’s grace—drawn by intense devotion—destroys the soul’s impurity (mala), resulting in shiva-sāmya: sharing Shiva’s purity and freedom.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship channels devotion into concentrated bhāva; that ripened devotion invites prasāda (grace), which purifies the inner mala and leads toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate intense bhakti through japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), dhyāna on Shiva/Linga, and disciplined purity—aiming for inner mala-kṣaya rather than mere outer observance.