Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7
सर्गविभागवर्णनम्
Classification of Creation: the Nine Sargas and the Streams of Beings
अन्तःप्रकाशास्तिर्यंच आवृताश्च बहिः पुनः । पश्वात्मानस्ततो जाता उत्पथग्राहिणश्च ते । तमप्यसाधकं ज्ञात्वा सर्गमन्यममन्यत । तदोर्ध्वस्रोतसो वृत्तो देवसर्गस्तु सात्त्विकः
antaḥprakāśāstiryaṃca āvṛtāśca bahiḥ punaḥ | paśvātmānastato jātā utpathagrāhiṇaśca te | tamapyasādhakaṃ jñātvā sargamanyamamanyata | tadordhvasrotaso vṛtto devasargastu sāttvikaḥ
Pagkaraan, isinilang ang mga nilalang na may liwanag sa loob ngunit natatakpan sa labas; ang kanilang kamalayan ay nakalihis sa gilid. Kaya sila’y naging mga kaluluwang nasa kalagayang “paśu,” na hilig lumihis sa maling landas. Nang malaman niyang ang paglikhang ito’y hindi rin nakatutulong sa espirituwal na pagtatamo, nag-isip siya ng iba pang paglikha. Noon ay sumibol ang agos na paakyat: ang paglikha ng mga deva, na nangingibabaw ang sattva.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages, describing Brahma’s successive creations)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Cosmic Event: graded emergence: tiryak-srotas (inner light, outer veiling) followed by ūrdhva-srotas deva-sarga (sāttvika ascent)
FAQs
It contrasts the bound ‘paśu’ condition—where consciousness is veiled and prone to wrong paths—with the sāttvic, upward-moving tendency that supports sādhana, implying that liberation requires a turn toward higher, clearer awareness under Pati (Śiva).
The verse sets the need for a sādhaka-supporting creation; in Shaiva practice this is fulfilled by turning the mind upward through Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā), which purifies the paśu-state and aligns one with sattva and grace.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate the ‘upward flow’ through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and sattvic disciplines; this supports moving away from utpatha (wrong tendencies) toward śuddhi and steadiness in worship.