Shloka 43

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

रुद्रः पशुपतिश्चैव पशुपाशविमोचकः यः पशुस्तत्पशुत्वं च व्रतेनानेन संत्यजेत्

Transliteration

rudraḥ paśupatiścaiva paśupāśavimocakaḥ yaḥ paśustatpaśutvaṃ ca vratenānena saṃtyajet

Translation

رُدر ہی پشوپتی ہے اور پشو کے پاش (بندھن) کو کاٹ کر آزاد کرنے والا بھی وہی ہے۔ اس ورت کے آچرن سے جو جیَو ‘پشو’ ہے وہ اپنا پَشُتوَ—بندھی ہوئی حالت—ترک کر دیتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• रुद्रः (rudraḥ): Rudra, Shiva

• पशुपतिः (paśupatiḥ): Lord of the pashus (bound souls)

• च एव (caiva): and indeed

• पशुपाश-विमोचकः (paśupāśa-vimocakaḥ): releaser from the bonds (pāśa) of the pashu

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• पशुः (paśuḥ): the bound soul/individual self

• तत्-पशुत्वम् (tat-paśutvam): that state of being a pashu (bonded condition)

• च (ca): and

• व्रतेन (vratena): by the vow/observance

• अनेन (anena): by this

• संत्यजेत् (saṃtyajet): should abandon, relinquishes.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva (Paśupati)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Shiva (Rudra) as Paśupati who frees the worshipper (paśu) from pāśa; Linga-oriented vrata is presented as a means to dissolve bondage and attain liberation.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is identified as Pati—the sovereign Lord of souls—whose grace and power specifically function as pāśa-vimocana, the removal of the soul’s binding limitations.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-style vrata (observance) is highlighted—disciplined worship and conduct aimed at transcending paśutva (bonded identity) through Shiva’s liberating agency.