Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

अमृतस्य परं सेतुं दग्धेंधनमिवानिलम् । यदा चर्मवदाकाशं वेष्टयिष्यंति मानवाः

Transliteration

amṛtasya paraṃ setuṃ dagdheṃdhanamivānilam | yadā carmavadākāśaṃ veṣṭayiṣyaṃti mānavāḥ

Translation

当人们试图把虚空当作皮革来缠束，又要像抓住已烧成灰的柴薪那样攫取清风——唯有那时，方可越过不死之境的至上界限；故以寻常手段，终不可得。

Word by Word

• अमृतस्य: of nectar/immortality
• अमृतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive singular)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc sg; 'supreme')

• सेतुम्: bridge, causeway
• सेतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (object/complement)

• दग्ध-इन्धनम्: burnt fuel
• दग्ध-इन्धनम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + इन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (burnt fuel); उपमान (as standard of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अनिलम्: wind
• अनिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; उपमेय/कर्म (object in apposition/comparison)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (relative temporal adverb: 'when')

• चर्म-वत्: like leather
• चर्म-वत्: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial: 'like/as if [leather]')

• आकाशम्: the sky/space
• आकाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• वेष्टयिष्यन्ति: will wrap/enclose
• वेष्टयिष्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मानवाः: humans
• मानवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; कर्ता (subject)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It declares the impossibility of attaining deathlessness through mere human effort; liberation lies beyond worldly grasp and is reached through Shiva (Pati) and right knowledge, detachment, and grace.

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

By stressing the limits of external control over nature, it points the seeker toward Saguna Shiva worship (Linga) as a concrete support for devotion and inner transformation, leading to realization of Shiva beyond attributes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate vairagya and turn to Shaiva sadhana—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation on Shiva, and disciplined yoga—rather than relying on purely worldly or intellectual conquest.