Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17
पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः
Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge
मुनय ऊचुः । कैषा प्रकृतिरित्युक्ता क एष पुरुषो मतः । अनयोः केन सम्बन्धः कोयं प्रेरक ईश्वरः
munaya ūcuḥ | kaiṣā prakṛtirityuktā ka eṣa puruṣo mataḥ | anayoḥ kena sambandhaḥ koyaṃ preraka īśvaraḥ
Die Weisen sprachen: „Was ist es wahrlich, das Prakṛti genannt wird? Und wer gilt als dieser Puruṣa? Wodurch wird die Beziehung zwischen beiden begründet? Und wer ist dieser antreibende Herr, der Īśvara?“
Sages (Munis) at Naimisharanya
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It frames the core Shaiva inquiry into bondage and liberation: what matter (Prakṛti) is, what the individual conscious principle (Puruṣa/paśu) is, and how the Supreme Lord (Īśvara/Pati—Shiva) governs their relationship to grant moksha.
By asking who the “impelling Lord” is, the verse points to Shiva as the supreme governor beyond Prakṛti and Puruṣa; Linga worship is a Saguna support for realizing that same transcendent Pati who directs creation and liberation.
The verse suggests tattva-vicāra (contemplation of principles) leading to devotion to Īśvara; in Shaiva practice this is commonly supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Shiva as the inner Preraka (impeller).