Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

निग्रहं चाप्यसाधूनामीशानश्शिवशासनात् । धत्ते तु धरणीं मूर्ध्ना शेषः शिवनियोगतः

Transliteration

nigrahaṃ cāpyasādhūnāmīśānaśśivaśāsanāt | dhatte tu dharaṇīṃ mūrdhnā śeṣaḥ śivaniyogataḥ

Translation

ด้วยพระบัญชาของพระศิวะ อีศานะย่อมข่มปราบคนอธรรม; และด้วยการแต่งตั้งของพระศิวะ เศษะย่อมแบกแผ่นดินไว้เหนือเศียร

Word by Word

• निग्रहम्: restraint/punishment
• निग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन; Accusative singular

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय; particle ‘also’

• असाधूनाम्: of the wicked
• असाधूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असाधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• ईशानः: Īśāna (a form of Śiva)
• ईशानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता) एकवचन; Nominative singular

• शिव-शासनात्: from Śiva’s command
• शिव-शासनात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (हेतु/अपादान) एकवचन; Genitive-tatpuruṣa ‘from Śiva’s command’

• धत्ते: supports/bears
• धत्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 3rd sg (ātmanepada)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय; particle ‘but/indeed’

• धरणीम्: the earth
• धरणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन; Accusative singular

• मूर्ध्ना: with (his) head
• मूर्ध्ना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• शेषः: Śeṣa (serpent)
• शेषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता) एकवचन; Nominative singular

• शिव-नियोगतः: by Śiva’s commission
• शिव-नियोगतः: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (हेतु/अपादान) एकवचन; Ablative singular; tatpuruṣa ‘from Śiva’s appointment/commission’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana
• Shesha

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) whose will sustains cosmic order: He empowers divine agencies to uphold dharma—restraining adharma and supporting the world—showing that liberation depends on aligning with Śiva’s ordinance rather than egoic autonomy.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva as Īśāna—the ruling, directive presence who governs the universe. Linga worship trains the devotee to recognize this sovereign Lord behind all cosmic functions, turning reverence from mere mythic imagery to direct devotion to Śiva’s living authority.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the bhāva of surrender to Śiva’s śāsana (command), coupled with a dharmic vow (niyama) to restrain harmful impulses—mirroring the verse’s theme of nigraha (self-restraint).