Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13
शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः
Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox
न हि स्वेच्छाशरीरत्वं स्वातंत्र्यायोपपद्यते । स्वेच्छैव तादृशी पुंसां यस्मात्कर्मानुसारिणी
na hi svecchāśarīratvaṃ svātaṃtryāyopapadyate | svecchaiva tādṛśī puṃsāṃ yasmātkarmānusāriṇī
Indeed, having a body fashioned merely by one’s own wish does not amount to true independence. For the ‘will’ of embodied beings is of that kind precisely because it follows the course of their karma.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It teaches that the bound soul (paśu) is not truly free: even its sense of ‘choice’ is shaped by karmic bondage (pāśa). True freedom arises only through Shiva’s grace and liberation from karma.
Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is presented as a means to purify karma and loosen bondage; as karmic impressions weaken through devotion and discipline, the will becomes aligned with Shiva (Pati), moving toward genuine spiritual freedom.
A practical takeaway is regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Shaiva disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha, undertaken to reduce karmic conditioning and steady the mind in Shiva.