Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 72

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

सामान्यमेतत्कथितं व्रतस्यास्य समासतः । प्रतिमासं विशेषं च प्रवदामि यथाश्रुतम्

Transliteration

sāmānyametatkathitaṃ vratasyāsya samāsataḥ | pratimāsaṃ viśeṣaṃ ca pravadāmi yathāśrutam

Translation

至此，此誓愿之一般纲要已略说。现在我将依传承所闻，宣说每月应行的特定修持。

Word by Word

• sāmānyam: the general (account)
• sāmānyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally with ‘sāmānyam’

• kathitam: has been stated
• kathitam: Kriyā (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kathita (कृदन्त; √kath)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; past passive participle (क्त/PPP) used predicatively

• vratasya: of the vow
• vratasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (n.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Ekavacana

• asya: of this
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam/ayam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.)/Napुंसaka possible by context; Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Ekavacana; ‘of this’ referring to the vow

• samāsataḥ: briefly, in summary
• samāsataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative-form used adverbially (तसिल्-प्रत्ययभाव): ‘in brief/summarizingly’

• prati-māsam: each month
• prati-māsam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound functioning as adverb; accusative-form base ‘māsam’ with ‘prati’ = ‘each month’

• viśeṣam: the special detail
• viśeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• pravadāmi: I declare/tell
• pravadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु) with pra- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Uttama puruṣa (1st person/उत्तम), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• yathā-śrutam: as heard; according to tradition
• yathā-śrutam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + śruta (कृदन्त; √śru)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially: ‘as heard/according to what is heard’; śrutam = PPP (क्त) neut. acc./nom. sg used in compound

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific jyotirliṅga episode; it is a pedagogical transition from general vrata-rules to month-wise viśeṣa-vidhi (received tradition).

Significance: Encourages adherence to sampradāya (yathāśruta) and detailed observance; in practice, such month-wise prescriptions often guide temple calendars and household vrata routines.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It frames vrata as a structured sadhana: first the common principles, then month-wise disciplines—showing that steady, regulated practice purifies the bound soul (paśu) and orients it toward Shiva (Pati).

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

By introducing detailed monthly observances, it prepares the devotee for consistent saguna-upasana—typically expressed through regulated worship, offerings, and conduct directed to Shiva’s accessible form (often via Linga worship).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A month-by-month vrata regimen is implied—regularizing daily worship and restraints; in Shaiva practice this commonly accompanies mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara), purity disciplines, and other Shiva-oriented niyamas as the text proceeds.