Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7
सर्गविभागवर्णनम्
Classification of Creation: the Nine Sargas and the Streams of Beings
अन्तःप्रकाशास्तिर्यंच आवृताश्च बहिः पुनः । पश्वात्मानस्ततो जाता उत्पथग्राहिणश्च ते । तमप्यसाधकं ज्ञात्वा सर्गमन्यममन्यत । तदोर्ध्वस्रोतसो वृत्तो देवसर्गस्तु सात्त्विकः
antaḥprakāśāstiryaṃca āvṛtāśca bahiḥ punaḥ | paśvātmānastato jātā utpathagrāhiṇaśca te | tamapyasādhakaṃ jñātvā sargamanyamamanyata | tadordhvasrotaso vṛtto devasargastu sāttvikaḥ
Alors naquirent des êtres dont la lumière est au-dedans, mais qui sont recouverts au-dehors; leur conscience se tourne de côté. Ils devinrent ainsi des âmes en condition de “paśu”, enclines à saisir des voies dévoyées. Sachant que cette création n’était pas non plus propice à l’accomplissement spirituel, il conçut une autre création. Alors surgit l’ordre au courant ascendant : la création des devas, de nature sāttvique, dominée par sattva.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages, describing Brahma’s successive creations)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Cosmic Event: graded emergence: tiryak-srotas (inner light, outer veiling) followed by ūrdhva-srotas deva-sarga (sāttvika ascent)
FAQs
It contrasts the bound ‘paśu’ condition—where consciousness is veiled and prone to wrong paths—with the sāttvic, upward-moving tendency that supports sādhana, implying that liberation requires a turn toward higher, clearer awareness under Pati (Śiva).
The verse sets the need for a sādhaka-supporting creation; in Shaiva practice this is fulfilled by turning the mind upward through Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā), which purifies the paśu-state and aligns one with sattva and grace.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate the ‘upward flow’ through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and sattvic disciplines; this supports moving away from utpatha (wrong tendencies) toward śuddhi and steadiness in worship.