Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1
पशु-पाश-पतिविचारः / Inquiry into Paśu, Pāśa, and Pati
मुनय ऊचुः । यो ऽयं पशुरिति प्रोक्तो यश्च पाश उदाहृतः । अभ्यां विलक्षणः कश्चित्कोयमस्ति तयोः पतिः
munaya ūcuḥ | yo 'yaṃ paśuriti prokto yaśca pāśa udāhṛtaḥ | abhyāṃ vilakṣaṇaḥ kaścitkoyamasti tayoḥ patiḥ
เหล่ามุนีกล่าวว่า: “ผู้ที่เรียกว่า ‘ปศุ’ คือชีวะผู้ถูกผูก และสิ่งที่เรียกว่า ‘ปาศ’ คือเครื่องผูก—แล้วผู้ใดคือสภาวะที่ต่างจากทั้งสอง เป็น ‘ปติ’ คือเจ้าเหนือเขาทั้งคู่?”
Sages of Naimisharanya (addressing Suta Goswami)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It frames the core Shaiva Siddhanta triad: the soul (paśu), its bondage (pāśa), and the liberating Lord (Pati—Śiva) who is distinct from both and grants moksha.
By identifying Śiva as Pati, it supports devotion to Śiva—often approached through the Śiva-liṅga as the accessible Saguna focus—while affirming that the Lord ultimately transcends bondage and the bound condition.
Contemplate the distinction between paśu, pāśa, and Pati while doing japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” seeking Śiva’s grace to cut the bonds of karma and ignorance.