Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge

Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati

Devanagari script

बुद्धिं प्रसूते सा बुद्धिरहंकारमहंकृतिः । इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च तन्मात्रापञ्चकं तथा

Transliteration

buddhiṃ prasūte sā buddhirahaṃkāramahaṃkṛtiḥ | indriyāṇi daśaikaṃ ca tanmātrāpañcakaṃ tathā

Translation

由彼而生觉知（buddhi，智）；由觉知复生我执（ahaṅkāra），造作“我”之念。由我执而起十一根——十种感官并心（意）——亦复生五种微境（tanmātra，五微细元素）。

Word by Word

• बुद्धिम्: intellect (buddhi)
• बुद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• प्रसूते: brings forth / produces
• प्रसूते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√सू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, Present 3rd person singular

• सा: she / that (Prakṛti)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (refers to प्रकृतिः)

• बुद्धिः: buddhi (intellect)
• बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• अहंकारम्: ego-principle (ahaṃkāra)
• अहंकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• अहंकृतिः: I-maker / egoity
• अहंकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहंकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular; apposition/identifier of अहंकार

• इन्द्रियाणि: sense faculties
• इन्द्रियाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative/Accusative plural

• दश: ten
• दश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; indeclinable numeral used adjectivally

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; numeral used with implied noun (e.g., मनः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• तन्मात्रा-पञ्चकम्: the set of five tanmātras
• तन्मात्रा-पञ्चकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तन्मात्राणां पञ्चकम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise / also
• तथा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (thus/likewise)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

FAQs

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

It maps the inner chain of manifestation—buddhi to ahaṅkāra to mind, senses, and tanmātras—showing how the soul (paśu) becomes entangled in pasha (bondage) through these instruments, and why discrimination and right knowledge are essential for liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

By identifying the mind–sense complex as a product of ahaṅkāra, it implies that Linga/Saguna Shiva worship disciplines these faculties—turning attention away from sense-objects and toward Shiva—so buddhi becomes purified and fit for Shiva-realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sense-restraint and inward meditation are indicated: steady the mind (the eleventh faculty) through japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supported by Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, so buddhi gains clarity and egoity loosens.