Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15
पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः
Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge
मुनय ऊचुः । किं तदक्षरमित्युक्तं किं च क्षरमुदाहृतम् । तयोश्च परमं किं वा तदेतद्ब्रूहि मारुत
munaya ūcuḥ | kiṃ tadakṣaramityuktaṃ kiṃ ca kṣaramudāhṛtam | tayośca paramaṃ kiṃ vā tadetadbrūhi māruta
Die Weisen sprachen: „Was wird das Unvergängliche (akṣara) genannt, und was heißt das Vergängliche (kṣara)? Und was ist das Höchste jenseits von beiden? O Māruta, sage es uns klar.“
Sages (Munis) addressing Māruta (Vāyu)
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: teaching
FAQs
It frames a core Shaiva philosophical inquiry: distinguishing the changing world (kṣara), the enduring principle (akṣara), and the Supreme Lord (Paramam/Pati) who transcends both and grants liberation.
By asking about the Supreme beyond perishable and imperishable, the verse prepares the teaching that the transcendent Shiva (beyond all categories) is approached through compassionate manifestations—such as the Linga—where Nirguna truth is made accessible through Saguna worship.
The verse suggests inquiry-based meditation (vicāra) on what changes and what does not, culminating in contemplation of Shiva as the Supreme; in practice this is supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on the Linga as the focus of transcendence.