Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

दिवि वर्षत्यसौ भानुर्देवदेवस्य शासनात् । पुष्णात्योषधिजातानि भूतान्याह्लादयत्यपि

Transliteration

divi varṣatyasau bhānurdevadevasya śāsanāt | puṣṇātyoṣadhijātāni bhūtānyāhlādayatyapi

Translation

ด้วยพระบัญชาของเทพเหนือเทพ (ศิวะ) พระอาทิตย์นั้นยังบันดาลให้ฝนตกในท้องฟ้า; ทรงบำรุงพืชสมุนไพรทั้งหลาย และยังทำให้สรรพชีวิตชื่นบานด้วย।

Word by Word

• दिवि: in heaven/in the sky
• दिवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• वर्षति: rains
• वर्षति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• असौ: that (one)/he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दूरवाचक सर्वनाम (demonstrative: that/he)

• भानुः: the Sun
• भानुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः)

• शासनात्: by/according to the command
• शासनात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• पुष्णाति: nourishes
• पुष्णाति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ओषधिजातानि: plant-kinds/vegetation
• ओषधिजातानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओषधि (प्रातिपदिक) + जात (कृदन्त; जन्-धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ओषधीनां जातानि)

• भूतानि: beings
• भूतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (कृदन्त; भू-धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आह्लादयति: gladdens/refreshes
• आह्लादयति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ह्लादय् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (also)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single jyotirliṅga; emphasizes devas (Sun) functioning as instruments under Śiva’s śāsana, a common Purāṇic theme supporting Śiva’s supremacy over the devatā hierarchy.

Significance: Cultivates the vision that daily cosmic benefactions (sunlight, rain, healing herbs) are mediated by devas but ultimately depend on Śiva; supports gratitude and daily sandhyā-style remembrance of Śiva as Devadeva.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: arghya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Seasonal order implied: rain and growth of oṣadhi (herbs) as part of sustaining cosmic rhythm

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Surya

FAQs

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

It teaches that even the Sun’s life-giving powers operate under Śiva’s ordinance, pointing to Pati (Śiva) as the supreme Lord who governs the cosmos and sustains beings through grace-ordered nature.

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

The verse supports Saguna devotion by presenting Śiva as the personal Lord (Devadeva) whose will directs cosmic functions; Linga worship honors this sovereign presence behind all visible powers like the Sun and rain.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Śiva-smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering water (jala) to the Śiva-liṅga in gratitude for rain, nourishment, and the sustaining order established by Śiva.