Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 51
पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge
Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati
तद्वज्रं निजवज्रेण संसृष्टमिव सर्वतः । तृणेनाभिहतं तेन तिर्यगग्रं पपात ह
tadvajraṃ nijavajreṇa saṃsṛṣṭamiva sarvataḥ | tṛṇenābhihataṃ tena tiryagagraṃ papāta ha
ذلك الفَجْرَة، كأنه قد امتزج من كل جانب بقوته الشبيهة بالفَجْرَة، ضُرِب به كما لو كان بضربةٍ من شفرة عشبٍ يسيرة؛ فسقط، وقد انحرف رأسه، وهوى مائلاً.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It emphasizes Shaiva Siddhanta’s core insight: before Pati (Shiva), even the mightiest instruments of power become as ineffective as straw; liberation arises from surrender and right knowledge, not from force.
The verse supports Saguna Shiva worship by portraying the Lord’s accessible supremacy—devotees approach the Linga not as a symbol of mere power, but as the compassionate Pati who effortlessly removes impediments and turns hostile forces aside.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility—cultivating the inner attitude that worldly weapons and anxieties are ‘like grass’ before Shiva’s grace.