Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11
पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge
Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati
उपमन्युरुवाच । ब्रह्माद्याः स्थावरांताश्च देवदेवस्य शूलिनः । पशवः परिकीर्त्यंते संसारवशवर्तिनः
upamanyuruvāca | brahmādyāḥ sthāvarāṃtāśca devadevasya śūlinaḥ | paśavaḥ parikīrtyaṃte saṃsāravaśavartinaḥ
Dijo Upamanyu: «Desde Brahmā en adelante, e incluso hasta los seres inmóviles, todos son llamados “paśus” ante Śūlin, el Dios de los dioses, porque permanecen bajo el dominio del saṃsāra».
Upamanyu
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta frame of Pati–Paśu–Pāśa: all embodied and conditioned beings—from Brahmā to the immovable—are ‘paśu’ insofar as they are constrained by saṃsāra, while Śiva as Pati alone is truly sovereign and liberating.
By calling Śiva ‘Devadeva’ and ‘Śūlin,’ the verse points to Saguna Śiva as the supreme Lord who can cut the bonds of saṃsāra; Linga-worship is a direct devotional approach to that Pati, seeking His grace to transcend the paśu-condition.
The practical takeaway is to seek release from saṃsāra through Śiva-upāsanā—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotion—supported by Shaiva disciplines such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.