Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 14
सर्वथा यत् पशून् पाति तैश्व यद् रमते सह । तेषामधिपतिर्यच्च तस्मात् पशुपति: स्मृत:
sarvathā yat paśūn pāti taiś ca yad ramate saha | teṣām adhipatir yac ca tasmāt paśupatiḥ smṛtaḥ ||
Wika ni Vāyu: “Sapagkat pinangangalagaan niya ang mga hayop sa lahat ng paraan, nalulugod na manahan sa piling nila, at siya ang kanilang panginoon at tagapangasiwa, kaya siya’y inaalala sa pangalang ‘Paśupati’—ang Panginoon ng mga nilalang.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True lordship is defined by protection and benevolent guardianship: the divine is praised not for domination but for safeguarding living beings and taking responsibility as their overseer—hence the epithet Paśupati.
Vāyudeva explains the etymological and ethical basis of the name “Paśupati,” stating that the deity is so called because he protects animals/creatures, delights in their company, and rules over them as their lord.