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Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 63

सर्गविभागवर्णनम्

Classification of Creation: the Nine Sargas and the Streams of Beings

यक्षाः पिशाचा गंधर्वास्तथैवाप्सरसां गणाः । नरकिन्नररक्षांसि वयःपशुमृगोरगाः । अव्ययं चैव यदिदं स्थाणुस्थावरजंगमम् । तेषां वै यानि कर्माणि प्राक्सृष्टानि प्रपेदिरे

yakṣāḥ piśācā gaṃdharvāstathaivāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ | narakinnararakṣāṃsi vayaḥpaśumṛgoragāḥ | avyayaṃ caiva yadidaṃ sthāṇusthāvarajaṃgamam | teṣāṃ vai yāni karmāṇi prāksṛṣṭāni prapedire

ยักษ์ ปิศาจ คนธรรพ์ และหมู่อัปสรา; มนุษย์ คินนร และรากษส; นก ปศุสัตว์ สัตว์ป่า และงู—สรรพสิ่งอันไม่เสื่อมสูญนี้ ทั้งที่นิ่ง ที่ตั้งอยู่ และที่เคลื่อนไหว ต่างก็เข้าสู่กรรมและหน้าที่ของตนซึ่งถูกกำหนดไว้ตั้งแต่ปฐมกาลแห่งการสร้าง

yakṣāḥYakṣas
yakṣāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
piśācāḥPiśācas
piśācāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpiśāca (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
gandharvāḥGandharvas
gandharvāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
tathāthus
tathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
FormPrakāra-avyaya (adverb: "thus/so")
evaindeed
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormAvadhāraṇa-avyaya
apsarasāmof the Apsarases
apsarasām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootapsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana
gaṇāḥgroups
gaṇāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
nara-kinnara-rakṣāṃsimen, Kinnaras, and Rākṣasas
nara-kinnara-rakṣāṃsi:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootnara (प्रातिपदिक) + kinnara (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; Dvandva (copulative list)
vayaḥ-paśu-mṛga-oragāḥbirds, cattle, beasts, and serpents
vayaḥ-paśu-mṛga-oragāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvayas (प्रातिपदिक) + paśu (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + uraga (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; Dvandva (birds, cattle, beasts, serpents)
avyayamimperishable / unchanging
avyayam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootavyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana (agreeing with yad idam)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormSamuccaya-avyaya
evaindeed
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormAvadhāraṇa-avyaya
yatwhich
yat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana (relative pronoun)
idamthis
idam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana (demonstrative)
sthāṇu-sthāvara-jaṅgamamthe fixed/immobile and moving (world)
sthāṇu-sthāvara-jaṅgamam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsthāṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāvara (प्रातिपदिक) + jaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Dvandva ("fixed, immobile, and moving")
teṣāmof them
teṣām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana
vaiindeed
vai:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvai (अव्यय)
FormNipāta (particle/निपात), emphasis
yāniwhich (things)
yāni:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana (relative)
karmāṇiactions / deeds
karmāṇi:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
prāk-sṛṣṭānicreated earlier
prāk-sṛṣṭāni:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootprāk (अव्यय) + √sṛj (धातु) + kta (क्त)
FormAvyayībhāva (prāk + sṛṣṭa = "previously created"); kta-PPP, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Bahuvacana
prapedirethey attained / resorted to
prapedire:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√pad (धातु)
FormLiṭ lakāra (perfect), Ātmanepada, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana

Suta Goswami

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Event: sṛṣṭi-sthiti continuum: beings enter pre-assigned karmic functions

Y
Yakshas
P
Pishachas
G
Gandharvas
A
Apsarases
H
Humans
K
Kinnaras
R
Rakshasas
B
Birds
A
Animals
S
Serpents

FAQs

It teaches that all classes of beings move within a divinely established cosmic order: each life-form follows its allotted karma. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, recognizing this order encourages humility and prompts the soul (paśu) to seek liberation by turning from bound action toward Shiva, the supreme Lord (Pati).

By showing that every being is bound to functions set at creation, the verse implies the need for a higher refuge beyond karma. Linga-worship is approached as surrender to Saguna Shiva—Pati—who governs creation and grants grace to transcend bondage (pāśa).

A practical takeaway is karma-offering: perform one’s duties while dedicating their fruits to Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Linga-upacāra, cultivating detachment and seeking Shiva’s anugraha (grace).