Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

तदर्धं वा तदर्धं वा मासमेकमथापि वा । दिनद्वादशकं वा ऽथ दिनषट्कमथापि वा

Transliteration

tadardhaṃ vā tadardhaṃ vā māsamekamathāpi vā | dinadvādaśakaṃ vā 'tha dinaṣaṭkamathāpi vā

Translation

或为其一半，或再减半；或甚至整整一月；或十二日；或仅六日——对湿婆的礼拜与持戒之修行，可随此诸期限而行。

Word by Word

• tad-ardham: half of that
• tad-ardham: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (half of that)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (or)

• tad-ardham: half of that
• tad-ardham: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (or)

• māsam: a month
• māsam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying māsam)

• atha: then; also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक/प्रसङ्गार्थक (then/also)

• api: also; even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (also/even)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (or)

• dina-dvādaśakam: twelve days
• dina-dvādaśakam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक) + dvādaśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dinānāṃ dvādaśakam = a set of twelve days)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (or)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक/प्रसङ्गार्थक (then)

• dina-ṣaṭkam: six days
• dina-ṣaṭkam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣaṭka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dinānāṃ ṣaṭkam = a set of six days)

• atha: then; also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक/प्रसङ्गार्थक (then/also)

• api: also; even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (also/even)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (or)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Further gradation (month/12 days/6 days) shows Śiva’s accessibility; even short, sincere observance can open the channel for anugraha and begin pāśa-loosening.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Śiva’s accessibility: the fruit of disciplined observance is not restricted to only long austerities—devotion practiced with steadiness, even for shorter periods, is spiritually meaningful and purifying.

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

By allowing flexible time-frames for observance, it supports regular Saguna worship—such as Liṅga-pūjā with mantra, offerings, and restraint—so devotees can align practice with capacity while keeping Śiva as the central focus.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake a Śiva-vrata for a chosen duration (six days, twelve days, or a month), maintaining daily worship—typically including pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), purity/fasting as able, and reverent Liṅga-pūjā.