Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati

Devanagari script

तिलेषु वा यथा तैलं दध्नि वा सर्पिरर्पितम् । यथापः स्रोतसि व्याप्ता यथारण्यां हुताशनः

Transliteration

tileṣu vā yathā tailaṃ dadhni vā sarpirarpitam | yathāpaḥ srotasi vyāptā yathāraṇyāṃ hutāśanaḥ

Translation

正如油藏于芝麻之中，酥油含于凝乳之内；正如水遍满流动的河道，火势蔓延于森林——同样，主宰湿婆（Śiva），作为内在之我，遍入一切众生与诸世界，虽不为外眼所见。

Word by Word

• तिलेषु: in sesame seeds
• तिलेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (comparative adverb)

• तैलम्: oil
• तैलम्: उपमेय (Thing compared)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• दध्नि: in curd
• दध्नि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative)

• सर्पिः: ghee
• सर्पिः: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• अर्पितम्: placed/contained
• अर्पितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate to सर्पिः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्प् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘समर्पित/निहित’

• यथा: just as
• यथा: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (comparative adverb)

• आपः: waters
• आपः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोगः), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• स्रोतसि: in a stream/current
• स्रोतसि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रोतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• व्याप्ताः: pervaded/spread
• व्याप्ताः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्याप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; आपः इति कर्तृपदेन सह

• यथा: just as
• यथा: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (comparative adverb)

• अरण्याम्: in a forest
• अरण्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (वैदिक/काव्य-प्रयोगे -आम्)

• हुताशनः: fire (the eater of offerings)
• हुताशनः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुत + अशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (कर्मधारय-प्रायः: ‘हुतं अश्नाति’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches Śiva’s subtle immanence: the Supreme Pati is present within all as their inner reality, like hidden oil in sesame. Liberation arises when this pervasion is recognized through right knowledge and devotion.

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

The Liṅga is a sacred support for meditation on the formless, all-pervading Śiva. By worshipping Saguna Śiva through the Liṅga, the devotee is led to perceive the same Śiva as the unseen essence within all beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as indwelling presence while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), using Liṅga-dhyāna; let the mind seek the ‘hidden essence’ of consciousness as oil is sought in sesame.