Shloka 43

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

रुद्रः पशुपतिश्चैव पशुपाशविमोचकः यः पशुस्तत्पशुत्वं च व्रतेनानेन संत्यजेत्

Transliteration

rudraḥ paśupatiścaiva paśupāśavimocakaḥ yaḥ paśustatpaśutvaṃ ca vratenānena saṃtyajet

Translation

ருத்ரனே பசுபதி; பசுவின் பாசம் (கட்டுப்பாடு) நீக்கும் விமோசகரும் அவரே. இந்த விரதத்தை மேற்கொண்டால், ‘பசு’ எனும் ஜீவன் தன் பசுத்த்வம்—பந்தநிலையை—விட்டொழிக்கிறது.

Word by Word

• रुद्रः (rudraḥ): Rudra, Shiva

• पशुपतिः (paśupatiḥ): Lord of the pashus (bound souls)

• च एव (caiva): and indeed

• पशुपाश-विमोचकः (paśupāśa-vimocakaḥ): releaser from the bonds (pāśa) of the pashu

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• पशुः (paśuḥ): the bound soul/individual self

• तत्-पशुत्वम् (tat-paśutvam): that state of being a pashu (bonded condition)

• च (ca): and

• व्रतेन (vratena): by the vow/observance

• अनेन (anena): by this

• संत्यजेत् (saṃtyajet): should abandon, relinquishes.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva (Paśupati)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Shiva (Rudra) as Paśupati who frees the worshipper (paśu) from pāśa; Linga-oriented vrata is presented as a means to dissolve bondage and attain liberation.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is identified as Pati—the sovereign Lord of souls—whose grace and power specifically function as pāśa-vimocana, the removal of the soul’s binding limitations.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-style vrata (observance) is highlighted—disciplined worship and conduct aimed at transcending paśutva (bonded identity) through Shiva’s liberating agency.