Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

महाभूतान्यशेषाणि जनयंति शिवाज्ञया । अध्यवस्यति वै बुद्धिरहंकारोभिमन्यते

Transliteration

mahābhūtānyaśeṣāṇi janayaṃti śivājñayā | adhyavasyati vai buddhirahaṃkārobhimanyate

Translation

శివాజ్ఞచేత సమస్త మహాభూతములు జనించును. బుద్ధి నిర్ణయముచేయును; అహంకారం ‘నేనే’ అని స్వీకరించును.

Word by Word

• mahā-bhūtāni: the great elements
• mahā-bhūtāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः ('महानि भूतानि')

• aśeṣāṇi: all, without remainder
• aśeṣāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• janayanti: generate, produce
• janayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan/जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• śiva-ājñayā: by Śiva’s command
• śiva-ājñayā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('शिवस्य आज्ञा')

• adhyavasyati: determines, resolves
• adhyavasyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√vas/वस् (धातु, 'निश्चये/अवस्थाने')
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः adhi-

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

• buddhiḥ: intellect
• buddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ahaṃkāraḥ: ego-sense
• ahaṃkāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahaṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• abhimanyate: conceives (as ‘I’), identifies
• abhimanyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√man/मन् (धातु, 'मन्यते')
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः abhi-

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: tattva-sṛṣṭi (emanation of mahābhūtas under īśvara-ājñā)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the cosmos arises under Śiva’s supreme ordinance, while bondage persists when buddhi “decides” and ahaṅkāra claims ownership—so liberation requires shifting agency from ego to Śiva.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to see all elements and experiences as governed by Śiva, reducing egoic appropriation (ahaṅkāra) and aligning the intellect (buddhi) with devotion and surrender to Saguna Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation that ‘all arises by Śiva’s command’ helps dissolve ahaṅkāra; applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) can reinforce remembrance that the elements are transient and belong to Śiva.