Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30
शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti
प्रसन्ने सति देवेश पशौ तस्मिन्प्रवर्तते । अस्ति नाथो ममेत्यल्पा भक्तिर्बुद्धिपुरस्सरा
prasanne sati deveśa paśau tasminpravartate | asti nātho mametyalpā bhaktirbuddhipurassarā
ഹേ ദേവേശാ! നിങ്ങൾ പ്രസന്നനായാൽ ആ പശു-ബന്ധിത ജീവനിലും ‘എനിക്ക് ഒരു നാഥൻ ഉണ്ട്’ എന്ന ബോധോദയം ഉണ്ടാകുന്നു; ബുദ്ധിപൂർവമായ ചെറിയ ഭക്തി അപ്പോൾ ആരംഭിക്കുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Significance: Highlights the first interior sign of grace: the paśu’s dawning trust ('asti nātho mama'). Pilgrimage is reinterpreted as moving from external seeking to inner reliance on the Lord as Protector.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that the bound soul (paśu) turns toward liberation only when Shiva (Pati) bestows grace; that grace first appears as the simple conviction, “I have a Lord,” which matures into bhakti and onward progress.
The verse points to a personal relationship with the Lord—“He is my Protector”—which is the inner basis of Saguna worship such as Linga-puja; external worship becomes effective when it is rooted in Shiva’s grace and awakened devotion.
Cultivate buddhi-purassarā bhakti by daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady Linga-dhyana, praying for Shiva’s prasada so devotion moves from small beginnings to liberating surrender.