Shloka 1

शिवार्चनविधिः — देवतानां पाशुपतव्रतप्राप्तिः तथा पशुपाशविमोक्षणम् (अध्याय ८०)

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे शिवार्चनविधिर् नामैकोनाशीतितमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः कथं पशुपतिं दृष्ट्वा पशुपाशविमोक्षणम् पशुत्वं तत्यजुर्देवास् तन्नो वक्तुमिहार्हसि

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge śivārcanavidhir nāmaikonāśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kathaṃ paśupatiṃ dṛṣṭvā paśupāśavimokṣaṇam paśutvaṃ tatyajurdevās tanno vaktumihārhasi

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga-Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, begins the eighty-ninth chapter called “The Procedure for Worship of Śiva.” The sages said: “How did the gods, upon beholding Paśupati, gain release from the bonds of the paśu and cast off the state of paśutva (bonded condition)? Please tell us here.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the sacred Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the former section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• śivārcana-vidhiḥ: the method/procedure of Śiva worship

• nāma: named

• ekona-aśīti-tamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the eighty-ninth chapter

• ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ: the sages said

• katham: how

• paśupatim: Paśupati (Lord of bound souls)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen/beheld

• paśu-pāśa-vimokṣaṇam: liberation from the fetters (pāśa) of the bound soul (paśu)

• paśutvam: the condition of being a bound paśu

• tatyajuḥ: they abandoned/cast off

• devāḥ: the gods

• tat: that

• naḥ: to us

• vaktum: to tell/explain

• iha: here (in this context)

• arhasi: you are worthy/please do

Speaker

Ṛṣis (sages of Naimiṣāraṇya), within Sūta’s narration framework

Characters & Entities

• Paśupati (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Śivārcana-vidhi as not merely ritual, but a liberation-teaching: beholding and worshipping Paśupati is presented as the means to loosen pāśa (bondage) and transcend paśutva (the bound state).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is invoked as Paśupati—Pati, the sovereign Lord—whose very darśana (vision/presence) is capable of granting paśu-pāśa-vimokṣaṇa, distinguishing Him from bound beings (paśu) and their fetters (pāśa).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The chapter heading signals Śiva-arcana (Linga/Śiva worship) as the practical path; the verse also points to darśana of Paśupati as a key salvific act aligned with Pāśupata-oriented liberation from pāśa.