Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 94

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

भूतप्रेतपिशासाश्च रोगाश्चातीव दुस्सहाः । भस्मनिष्ठस्य सान्निध्याद्विद्रवंति न संशयः

Transliteration

bhūtapretapiśāsāśca rogāścātīva dussahāḥ | bhasmaniṣṭhasya sānnidhyādvidravaṃti na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

ภูต เปรต ปิศาจ และแม้โรคภัยที่ทนได้ยากยิ่ง ก็ย่อมหนีไปเพียงได้อยู่ใกล้ผู้ตั้งมั่นในภัสมะ (เถ้าศักดิ์สิทธิ์) ข้อนี้ไม่ต้องสงสัย

Word by Word

• भूत-प्रेत-पिशाचाः: ghosts, departed spirits, and goblins
• भूत-प्रेत-पिशाचाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + प्रेत + पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (भूताः च प्रेताः च पिशाचाः च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• रोगाः: diseases
• रोगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• दुस्सहाः: hard to endure
• दुस्सहाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुः-सह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुषः (दुः + सह = hard to endure)

• भस्मनिष्ठस्य: of one devoted to ash (bhasma)
• भस्मनिष्ठस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म-निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भस्मनि निष्ठा यस्य)

• सान्निध्यात्: from (his) proximity
• सान्निध्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्निध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादानार्थ (from proximity)

• विद्रवन्ति: flee/run away
• विद्रवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Pratishedha/Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘no doubt’ इति वाक्यांशे

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Bhasma-dhāraṇa is presented as an apotropaic (rakṣā) Śaiva mark: proximity to a bhasma-niṣṭha devotee repels bhūta/preta/piśāca and severe roga—framing ash as a portable ‘tīrtha’ of Śiva’s purity and protection rather than a site-specific merit.

FAQs

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

It teaches that steadfast devotion expressed through bhasma (a Shaiva mark of surrender and purity) establishes a protective spiritual field, dissolving fear, negativity, and afflictive forces by Shiva’s grace.

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

Bhasma is traditionally received from Shiva worship (including Linga-pūjā) and worn as a sign of belonging to Shiva; the verse implies that closeness to such a devotee reflects the sanctity of Saguna Shiva’s worship and its tangible protective effect.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain bhasma-niṣṭhā: reverently apply sacred ash (tripuṇḍra) with Shiva-remembrance/mantra and live with disciplined devotion, so that the mind stays aligned with Shiva and fear-based disturbances subside.