Shloka 51

शिवार्चनविधिः — देवतानां पाशुपतव्रतप्राप्तिः तथा पशुपाशविमोक्षणम् (अध्याय ८०)

Devanagari script

मुच्यन्ते पशवः सर्वे पशुपाशैर्भवस्य तु दर्शयामास तान्देवान् नारायणपुरोगमान्

Transliteration

mucyante paśavaḥ sarve paśupāśairbhavasya tu darśayāmāsa tāndevān nārāyaṇapurogamān

Translation

“All paśus (bound souls) are released from the pāśas (bondages) belonging to Bhava (Śiva).” Then he caused those Devas—led by Nārāyaṇa—to behold that truth and vision.

Word by Word

• मुच्यन्ते: are liberated/released

• पशवः: pashus, individual souls

• सर्वे: all

• पशुपाशैः: by the bonds (pāśas) that bind the pashu

• भवस्य: of Bhava, Śiva (the Pati)

• तु: indeed/then

• दर्शयामास: he showed/caused to see

• तान्: those

• देवान्: gods (Devas)

• नारायणपुरोगमान्: having Nārāyaṇa as the foremost/leader

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages; describing Shiva’s act within the story)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Bhava)
• Narayaṇa (Vishnu)
• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva (Pati) as the sole revealer of moksha: Linga-centered devotion and insight culminate in release of the pashu from pasha, not merely in worldly boons.

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

Shiva is presented as Bhava, the Lord of pashus (Pashupati), who both binds through pasha for cosmic order and liberates through grace (anugraha), granting direct vision of truth even to the Devas.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to pāśa-mokṣa as the fruit of Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā—purification and surrender leading to Shiva’s anugraha, culminating in darśana (transformative vision).