Shloka 57

शिवार्चनविधिः — देवतानां पाशुपतव्रतप्राप्तिः तथा पशुपाशविमोक्षणम् (अध्याय ८०)

Devanagari script

पशूनां च पतिर्यस्मात् तेषां साक्षाद्धि देवताः तस्मात्पाशुपताः प्रोक्तास् तपस्तेपुश् च ते पुनः

Transliteration

paśūnāṃ ca patiryasmāt teṣāṃ sākṣāddhi devatāḥ tasmātpāśupatāḥ proktās tapastepuś ca te punaḥ

Translation

అతడు సమస్త పశువుల (బంధిత జీవుల) పతి కనుక, ఆ దేవతలు ప్రత్యక్షంగా ఆయన దైవత్వాధీనులు. అందువల్ల వారు ‘పాశుపతులు’ అని చెప్పబడ్డారు; వారు మళ్లీ భక్తితో తపస్సు చేశారు।

Word by Word

• पशूनाम् (paśūnām): of the paśus (bound beings/souls)

• च (ca): and

• पतिः (patiḥ): Lord, master

• यस्मात् (yasmāt): because, since

• तेषाम् (teṣām): of them

• साक्षात् (sākṣāt): directly, manifestly

• हि (hi): indeed

• देवताः (devatāḥ): the gods/deities

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore

• पाशुपताः (pāśupatāḥ): Pāśupatas (those devoted to Paśupati / followers of the Pāśupata path)

• प्रोक्ताः (proktāḥ): are called, are declared

• तपः (tapaḥ): austerity, ascetic discipline

• तेपुः (tepuḥ): they performed

• च (ca): and

• ते (te): they

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga worship in the Paśupati principle: Shiva as Pati (Lord) of all paśus, making devotion and tapas a direct means to approach the Linga as the manifest sign of that Lordship.

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

It presents Shiva-tattva as supreme Pati—transcendent yet directly present (sākṣāt) even to the devas—implying that all beings, including gods, stand within His sovereignty and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity) aligned with the Pāśupata orientation—disciplined devotion aimed at loosening pāśa (bondage) under the guidance of Paśupati.