Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11
विभूतिविस्तरप्रश्नः / Inquiry into the Expansion of Śiva’s Vibhūti
प्राप्तं च परमं ज्ञानमिति प्रागेव शुश्रुम । कथं स लब्धवान् कृष्णो ज्ञानं पाशुपतं परम्
prāptaṃ ca paramaṃ jñānamiti prāgeva śuśruma | kathaṃ sa labdhavān kṛṣṇo jñānaṃ pāśupataṃ param
Nous avons déjà entendu auparavant qu’il avait atteint la connaissance suprême. Comment donc Kṛṣṇa obtint-il cette connaissance Pāśupata, la plus haute?
Suta Goswami (continuing the Naimisharanya dialogue in the Vayu Samhita, voicing the sages’ inquiry)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it explicitly foregrounds ‘pāśupataṃ paramaṃ jñānam’ as a gift/attainment, implying Śiva’s grace as the decisive cause behind supreme knowledge.
Significance: Directs the listener toward the doctrine that highest knowledge is Śiva-bestowed (anugraha), not merely self-generated; encourages humility and inquiry.
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse frames Pāśupata-jñāna as the highest liberating knowledge—grace-centered wisdom of Paśupati (Shiva) that cuts the bonds (pāśa) of the bound soul (paśu), leading toward moksha.
By calling the knowledge “Pāśupata,” it points to Shiva as Paśupati approached through revealed teaching and devotion; in the Shiva Purana this is commonly integrated with Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—as a practical doorway to realizing Shiva’s supreme nature.
The verse implies seeking initiation and instruction in Shiva-centered discipline (Pāśupata path), typically supported by mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Shiva-pūjā, and purity observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa where taught in context.