Shloka 1

Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे पाशुपतव्रतमाहात्म्यं नामाशीतितमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः व्रतमेतत्त्वया प्रोक्तं पशुपाशविमोक्षणम् व्रतं पाशुपतं लैङ्गं पुरा देवैर् अनुष्ठितम्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge pāśupatavratamāhātmyaṃ nāmāśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ vratametattvayā proktaṃ paśupāśavimokṣaṇam vrataṃ pāśupataṃ laiṅgaṃ purā devair anuṣṭhitam

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrvabhāga, begins the eighty-first chapter called “The Greatness of the Pāśupata Vow.” The sages said: “You have taught this vow that releases the paśu from pāśa. This is the Pāśupata vow, the Liṅga-observance, which in ancient times was practiced even by the devas.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Linga Mahapurana

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Purva-bhaga)

• pāśupata-vrata-māhātmyaṃ: the greatness of the Pashupata vow

• nāma: named

• aśītitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the eighty-first chapter

• ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ: the sages said

• vratam etat: this vow

• tvayā proktam: taught by you

• paśu-pāśa-vimokṣaṇam: liberation of the soul (pashu) from bondage (pasha)

• vratam pāśupatam: the Pashupata vow

• laiṅgam: pertaining to the Linga (Linga-centered observance)

• purā: formerly, in ancient times

• devaiḥ: by the gods (devas)

• anuṣṭhitam: practiced/undertaken

Speaker

Rishis (Sages of Naimisharanya) speaking to Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames the Pāśupata vow as a specifically “laiṅga” (Linga-centered) observance whose purpose is liberation—freeing the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa) through devotion and discipline oriented to Pati (Śiva).

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

By implying the triad of Pati–paśu–pāśa: Śiva as Pati is the liberator, the soul is bound by pāśa, and the Pāśupata path is the means by which Śiva’s grace and right practice remove bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the Pāśupata vrata—an austere Shaiva observance connected with Linga worship—presented as a liberating discipline historically undertaken even by the devas.