Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

पार्थिवांशं विना नित्यं सुरभिर्गन्धसंग्रहः । एवमष्टगुणं प्राहुः पैशाचं पार्थिवं पदम्

Transliteration

pārthivāṃśaṃ vinā nityaṃ surabhirgandhasaṃgrahaḥ | evamaṣṭaguṇaṃ prāhuḥ paiśācaṃ pārthivaṃ padam

Translation

除去土性之分外，香气恒常存在，为诸香之聚。故诸贤宣说：“地之状态”在其毗舍遮般（粗重、昏暗的惰性）之相中，具足八种德相。

Word by Word

• pārthivāṃśam: earthly portion
• pārthivāṃśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva-aṃśa (पार्थिव-अंश)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vinā: without
• vinā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (विना)
• Form: Prepositional Indeclinable

• nityam: always
• nityam: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (नित्य)
• Form: Adverbial Indeclinable

• surabhiḥ: fragrant
• surabhiḥ: Visheshana (Attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: surabhi (सुरभि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• gandhasaṃgrahaḥ: collection of smells
• gandhasaṃgrahaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha-saṃgraha (गन्ध-संग्रह)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• evam: thus
• evam: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (एवम्)
• Form: Adverbial Indeclinable

• aṣṭaguṇam: eight-fold
• aṣṭaguṇam: Visheshana (Attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa-guṇa (अष्ट-गुण)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prāhuḥ: they say
• prāhuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-brū (प्र-ब्रू)
• Form: Lat (Present used as Past), Parasamaipada, 3rd Person, Plural

• paiśācam: pertaining to Pishachas
• paiśācam: Visheshana (Attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paiśāca (पैशाच)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pārthivam: earthly
• pārthivam: Visheshana (Attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pārthiva (पार्थिव)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• padam: state/position
• padam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (पद)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to how the gross, earth-bound condition is characterized by sensory qualities (especially smell), symbolizing tamasic fixation. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, recognizing these guṇas helps the bound soul (paśu) discern its pasha (bondage) and turn toward Pati (Shiva) for purification and liberation.

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

Linga worship trains the senses to move from outward, earth-tethered enjoyment toward inward reverence. By offering fragrance (gandha), flowers, and other upacāras to Saguna Shiva, the devotee ritually redirects the same sensory forces that bind the mind into devotion, making them instruments of purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-discipline through Shiva-puja: offer gandha (fragrant substances) with awareness, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) to counter tamas, and repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to refine the mind from gross tendencies toward sattva and Shiva-consciousness.