Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9
पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः
Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge
मुनय ऊचुः । किं तज्ज्ञानं त्वया लब्धं तथ्यात्तथ्यंतरं शुभम् । यत्र कृत्वा परां निष्ठां पुरुषस्सुखमृच्छति
munaya ūcuḥ | kiṃ tajjñānaṃ tvayā labdhaṃ tathyāttathyaṃtaraṃ śubham | yatra kṛtvā parāṃ niṣṭhāṃ puruṣassukhamṛcchati
仙人たちは言った。「あなたが得た吉祥なる知とは何か。真実にかなって実相に即し、世俗の事実を超えるその知によって、最高の堅住（シヴァへのニシュター）を打ち立てれば、人は真の安らぎに至るのか。」
The sages of Naimisharanya (Munis), questioning Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Naimiṣāraṇya as a śravaṇa-kṣetra: hearing purāṇic Śiva-jñāna is itself a merit-yielding pilgrimage.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It frames the central Shaiva inquiry: the liberating knowledge that is both true and auspicious, culminating in parā niṣṭhā—unshakable abidance in Śiva—which yields lasting peace rather than temporary pleasure.
The verse points to knowledge that ripens into steadfastness; in Shaiva practice, such niṣṭhā is commonly stabilized through saguna upāsanā—Linga worship, mantra, and devotion—leading the mind toward the supreme reality of Śiva.
The takeaway is to cultivate parā niṣṭhā through regular Śiva-upāsanā—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditative steadiness—so that knowledge becomes lived realization and inner peace.