Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot
Pre-battle Portents
तस्माद्वै पशवस्सर्वे देवासुरवराः प्रभोः । रुद्रः पशुपतिश्चैव पशुपाशविमोचकः
tasmādvai paśavassarve devāsuravarāḥ prabhoḥ | rudraḥ paśupatiścaiva paśupāśavimocakaḥ
ฉะนั้นสรรพสัตว์ทั้งปวง—แม้ผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่เทวะและอสูร—ล้วนเป็น “ปศุ” ของพระผู้เป็นเจ้า (ดวงจิตที่ถูกผูก) มีแต่พระรุทระเท่านั้นเป็นปศุปติ และพระองค์ทรงเป็นผู้ปลด “ปศุ” ให้พ้นจาก “ปาศ” คือเครื่องผูกพัน
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: The verse articulates the doctrinal title ‘Paśupati’ (Lord of bound souls) rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga origin; it frames Śiva as the unique liberator from pāśa.
Significance: Contemplation of Paśupati-bhāva (Śiva as liberator) is presented as spiritually emancipatory; in Siddhānta terms it orients the devotee toward anugraha and mukti.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It states the Shaiva Siddhanta principle of Pati–Paśu–Pāśa: all jīvas (even exalted devas and powerful asuras) are paśu—bound by pāśa—while Rudra alone is Pati, the sovereign liberator who grants mokṣa by removing bondage.
Worship of Śiva as the Liṅga (Saguna symbol of the Nirguna Lord) is an act of surrender to Paśupati. By devotion, mantra, and pūjā, the devotee seeks Śiva’s grace to cut the pāśa of ignorance and karma, affirming that liberation comes from Rudra, not from worldly power or celestial status.
A direct takeaway is Paśupati-bhakti through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility—recognizing oneself as paśu—and praying for pāśa-vimocana; this can be supported by Śiva-pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance and discipline.