Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

बिभर्ति सर्वं शर्वस्य शासनेन प्रभञ्जनः । हव्यं वहति देवानां कव्यं कव्याशिनामपि

Transliteration

bibharti sarvaṃ śarvasya śāsanena prabhañjanaḥ | havyaṃ vahati devānāṃ kavyaṃ kavyāśināmapi

Translation

ด้วยพระบัญชาของศรฺวะ (พระศิวะ) ปรภัญชนะ—ลม—ค้ำจุนและหล่อเลี้ยงสรรพสิ่งทั้งปวง เขายังนำพาเครื่องบูชา (หัวยะ) สำหรับเหล่าเทพ และเครื่องเซ่นบรรพชน (กัวยะ) สำหรับปิตฤด้วย

Word by Word

• bibharti: bears/supports
• bibharti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Ekavacana; object of bibharti

• śarvasya: of Śarva (Śiva)
• śarvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Ekavacana; ‘of Śarva (Śiva)’

• śāsanena: by (his) command
• śāsanena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāsana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Ekavacana; ‘by command’

• prabhañjanaḥ: the wind
• prabhañjanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhañjana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana; ‘wind’

• havyam: oblations for the gods
• havyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Ekavacana; object of vahati

• vahati: carries
• vahati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Bahuvacana; ‘of the gods’

• kavyam: offerings for the ancestors
• kavyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Ekavacana; object (elliptically ‘vahati’)

• kavya-āśinām: of the pitṛs (kavya-eaters)
• kavya-āśinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavya (प्रातिपदिक) + āśin (प्रातिपदिक; from √aś ‘to eat’)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen, 6th), Bahuvacana; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ‘कव्यं अश्नन्ति ये’ (those who eat kavya = pitṛs)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; additive particle (‘also’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it frames Vāyu (Prabhañjana) as an administrative power executing Śiva’s ordinance, including the conveyance of havya/kavya through ritual fire.

Significance: Highlights the Śaiva view that all ritual efficacy (deva-yajña and pitṛ-kārya) ultimately depends on Śiva’s governance; encourages Śiva-bhakti as the root of all dharma.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śarva)
• Vayu (Prabhañjana)
• Devas
• Pitrs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose ordinance governs even cosmic forces like Vāyu—showing that the universe is upheld not by chance but by the Lord’s conscious rule, while Vāyu serves as an instrument in maintaining ṛta (cosmic order).

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

By naming Śiva as Śarva, the verse highlights Saguna Śiva as the personal Lord who commands the cosmic functions; Linga worship similarly approaches Śiva as the accessible supreme Pati who receives devotion and grants grace while sustaining the world through his śakti and attendants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to the dharmic importance of offerings—devayajña (havya) and pitṛyajña (kavya)—and suggests performing worship with a Shaiva orientation: offer oblations with the remembrance of Śiva as the inner ruler, and mentally dedicate all acts to him (īśvarārpaṇa-buddhi).