Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 80

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

देशिकेनाप्यनुज्ञातः प्राङ्मुखो वाप्युदङ्मुखः । दर्भासनो दर्भपाणिः प्राणापानौ नियम्य च

Transliteration

deśikenāpyanujñātaḥ prāṅmukho vāpyudaṅmukhaḥ | darbhāsano darbhapāṇiḥ prāṇāpānau niyamya ca

Translation

เมื่อได้รับอนุญาตจากท่านเทศิกะ (ครูบาอาจารย์) แล้ว ให้หันหน้าไปทางทิศตะวันออกหรือทิศเหนือ นั่งบนอาสนะหญ้ากุศะและถือหญ้ากุศะไว้ในมือ แล้วพึงสำรวมและกำกับลมหายใจเข้าออก คือปราณและอปาน

Word by Word

• deśikena: by the teacher/preceptor
• deśikena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle: 'also/even')

• anujñātaḥ: permitted
• anujñātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu + jñā (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) — 'permitted/authorized'

• prāṅmukhaḥ: facing east
• prāṅmukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāṅ + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (प्राञ्चि मुखं यस्य)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय

• udaṅmukhaḥ: facing north
• udaṅmukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udaṅ + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (उदञ्चि मुखं यस्य)

• darbhāsanaḥ: having a darbha-grass seat
• darbhāsanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: darbha + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (दर्भम् आसनं यस्य)

• darbha-pāṇiḥ: holding darbha grass in hand
• darbha-pāṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: darbha + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (दर्भः पाणौ यस्य)

• prāṇa-apānau: the in-breath and out-breath
• prāṇa-apānau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa + apāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (प्राणश्च अपानश्च)

• niyamya: having regulated
• niyamya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + yam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक ल्यप्-रूप (absolutive/gerund) — 'having restrained/regulated'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights disciplined preparation (guru-permission, orientation, kuśa-seat, prāṇāyāma) that purifies the bound soul for mantra and dhyāna.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship and inner realization begin with discipline: the guru’s sanction, a purified posture, and regulation of prāṇa-apāna to steady the mind so the soul (paśu) can turn toward Pati (Shiva) beyond bonds (pāśa).

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

Before external Linga-pūjā, the practitioner prepares the inner instrument (antaḥkaraṇa) through correct orientation, ritual purity (kuśa seat), and breath-restraint, making the offering to Saguna Shiva focused rather than distracted.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A preparatory practice: sit facing east or north on kuśa (darbha), hold kuśa, and perform prāṇāyāma by regulating inhalation and exhalation under the guidance/permission of one’s teacher.