Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः

Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge

Devanagari script

वयुरुवाच । पशुपाशपतिज्ञानं यल्लब्धं तु मया पुरा । तत्र निष्ठा परा कार्या पुरुषेण सुखार्थिना

Transliteration

vayuruvāca | paśupāśapatijñānaṃ yallabdhaṃ tu mayā purā | tatra niṣṭhā parā kāryā puruṣeṇa sukhārthinā

Translation

风神（Vāyu）曰：“我久远以前所得者，乃关于兽（paśu，受缚之灵）、缚（pāśa，系缚之绳）与主（pati，至尊之主）之知。求真实安乐者，当于此知中建立至上的不动坚住与虔敬。”

Word by Word

• vāyuḥ: Vāyu
• vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• paśu-pāśa-pati-jñānam: knowledge of Paśupāśapati (Lord of beings and bonds)
• paśu-pāśa-pati-jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध: 'paśūnāṃ pāśānāṃ patiḥ' इति; तस्य jñānam), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• yat: which
• yat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (referring to jñānam)

• labdham: obtained
• labdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (agreeing with jñānam)

• tu: indeed; but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (adverb of time: formerly)

• tatra: there; in that (knowledge)
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देश/विषयवाचक (there; in that matter)

• niṣṭhā: steadfastness
• niṣṭhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• parā: supreme
• parā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (qualifying niṣṭhā)

• kāryā: should be done; must be undertaken
• kāryā: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive/Obligatory: 'to be done'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (agreeing with niṣṭhā)

• puruṣeṇa: by a person
• puruṣeṇa: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sukha-arthinā: by one seeking happiness
• sukha-arthinā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्थी/षष्ठीभाव: 'sukhasya arthī' = seeker of happiness), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (qualifying puruṣeṇa)

Speaker

Vayu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames the core Siddhāntic soteriology: liberation arises from right knowledge of pati-paśu-pāśa and steadfast commitment to it.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented happiness arises when one gains right understanding of the soul (paśu), bondage (pāśa), and Śiva as Lord (pati), and then remains firmly established in that truth through steady commitment (niṣṭhā).

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

Knowing pati as Śiva culminates in taking refuge in Him; in practice this is commonly expressed through Saguna worship—such as Linga-upāsanā—where devotion and contemplation stabilize the seeker in the Pati-tattva (the reality of the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes niṣṭhā—steady practice—so a fitting takeaway is daily Śiva-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with consistent meditation on Śiva as Pati and oneself as paśu seeking release from pāśa.