Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17
पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः
Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge
मुनय ऊचुः । कैषा प्रकृतिरित्युक्ता क एष पुरुषो मतः । अनयोः केन सम्बन्धः कोयं प्रेरक ईश्वरः
munaya ūcuḥ | kaiṣā prakṛtirityuktā ka eṣa puruṣo mataḥ | anayoḥ kena sambandhaḥ koyaṃ preraka īśvaraḥ
Les sages dirent : «Qu’est-ce donc que l’on nomme Prakṛti ? Et qui est tenu pour ce Puruṣa ? Par quoi s’établit le lien entre ces deux ? Et qui est ce Seigneur qui impulse, l’Īśvara ?»
Sages (Munis) at Naimisharanya
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It frames the core Shaiva inquiry into bondage and liberation: what matter (Prakṛti) is, what the individual conscious principle (Puruṣa/paśu) is, and how the Supreme Lord (Īśvara/Pati—Shiva) governs their relationship to grant moksha.
By asking who the “impelling Lord” is, the verse points to Shiva as the supreme governor beyond Prakṛti and Puruṣa; Linga worship is a Saguna support for realizing that same transcendent Pati who directs creation and liberation.
The verse suggests tattva-vicāra (contemplation of principles) leading to devotion to Īśvara; in Shaiva practice this is commonly supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Shiva as the inner Preraka (impeller).