Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 86
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
न तेन सदृशः कश्चित्कृतकृत्यो मुमुक्षुषु । यो यतिर्नैष्ठिको जातस्तमाहुर्नैष्ठिकोत्तमम्
na tena sadṛśaḥ kaścitkṛtakṛtyo mumukṣuṣu | yo yatirnaiṣṭhiko jātastamāhurnaiṣṭhikottamam
Sa mga naghahangad ng moksha, walang kapantay niya—yaong tumupad sa dapat tupdin. Ang yati na naging naiṣṭhika, matatag at di matinag sa disiplina ng kanyang panata, kaya tinatawag na naiṣṭhikottama, ang pinakamainam sa mga naiṣṭhika.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Soteriological superlative (‘kṛtakṛtya’ among mumukṣus) underscores the Śaiva ideal of liberation-through-discipline; can be read as a doctrinal ‘pilgrimage’ to the state of niṣṭhā rather than a place.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It praises the naiṣṭhika yati—one whose inner resolve is unbroken—declaring such steadiness as the mark of a truly accomplished seeker of mokṣa, aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on disciplined purification leading to Shiva’s grace.
Steadfastness (niṣṭhā) is the inner counterpart of outer worship: constant devotion to Saguna Shiva—often through Linga-upāsanā—stabilizes the mind and removes bonds (pāśa), making the seeker fit for Shiva’s liberating anugraha (grace).
Single-pointed daily sādhana: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), dhyāna on Shiva, and vrata-like consistency; optionally supported by Shaiva marks such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance.
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