Shloka 3
प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः
The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava
लोकेस्मिन्पशवस्सर्व्वे नानाशास्त्रविमोहिताः । वञ्चिताः परमेशस्य माययातिविचित्रया
lokesminpaśavassarvve nānāśāstravimohitāḥ | vañcitāḥ parameśasya māyayātivicitrayā
Neste mundo, todos os paśus —as almas encarnadas— são iludidos pelas muitas doutrinas divergentes e, pela Māyā assombrosamente maravilhosa de Parameśvara (o Senhor Śiva), são desviados do caminho.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta view that the soul (paśu) becomes bound and confused through Māyā’s veiling and projecting power, and therefore needs the grace of Pati (Śiva) and right understanding to move toward liberation.
Because minds are scattered by competing views, the Purana points the seeker to a stable, grace-filled focus—Saguna Śiva as worshipped in the Śiva-liṅga—so devotion and disciplined practice can cut through delusion and mature into true knowledge.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with daily Śiva-pūjā (including bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa where appropriate), to purify confusion and align the mind with Śiva’s grace.