Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 86
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
न तेन सदृशः कश्चित्कृतकृत्यो मुमुक्षुषु । यो यतिर्नैष्ठिको जातस्तमाहुर्नैष्ठिकोत्तमम्
na tena sadṛśaḥ kaścitkṛtakṛtyo mumukṣuṣu | yo yatirnaiṣṭhiko jātastamāhurnaiṣṭhikottamam
मुमुक्षूंमध्ये त्याच्यासारखा कृतकृत्य कोणी नाही। जो यति नैष्ठिक होऊन अचल व्रतनिष्ठेत स्थित झाला, तोच ‘नैष्ठिकोत्तम’ म्हणून कथिला जातो।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Soteriological superlative (‘kṛtakṛtya’ among mumukṣus) underscores the Śaiva ideal of liberation-through-discipline; can be read as a doctrinal ‘pilgrimage’ to the state of niṣṭhā rather than a place.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It praises the naiṣṭhika yati—one whose inner resolve is unbroken—declaring such steadiness as the mark of a truly accomplished seeker of mokṣa, aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on disciplined purification leading to Shiva’s grace.
Steadfastness (niṣṭhā) is the inner counterpart of outer worship: constant devotion to Saguna Shiva—often through Linga-upāsanā—stabilizes the mind and removes bonds (pāśa), making the seeker fit for Shiva’s liberating anugraha (grace).
Single-pointed daily sādhana: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), dhyāna on Shiva, and vrata-like consistency; optionally supported by Shaiva marks such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance.