Shloka 4

Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama

Devanagari script

मुनिभिश् च महाभागैर् अनुष्ठितमनुत्तमम् व्रतं द्वादशलिङ्गाख्यं पशुपाशविमोक्षणम्

Transliteration

munibhiś ca mahābhāgair anuṣṭhitamanuttamam vrataṃ dvādaśaliṅgākhyaṃ paśupāśavimokṣaṇam

Translation

بزرگ نصیب مُنیوں کے ادا کیے ہوئے اس بے مثال ورت کو ‘دْوادش لِنگ’ کہا جاتا ہے؛ یہ پشو (جیو) کو پاش (بندھن) سے رہائی دینے والا ہے۔

Word by Word

• मुनिभिः (munibhiḥ): by sages

• च (ca): and

• महाभागैः (mahābhāgaiḥ): by the greatly fortunate/noble ones

• अनुष्ठितम् (anuṣṭhitam): performed/undertaken

• अनुत्तमम् (anuttamam): unsurpassed, supreme

• व्रतम् (vratam): vow, sacred observance

• द्वादश-लिङ्ग-आख्यम् (dvādaśa-liṅgākhyam): named/known as ‘twelve liṅgas’

• पशु (paśu): the individual soul bound in saṃsāra

• पाश (pāśa): bondage, fetter (karmic and impurity-based bonds)

• विमोक्षणम् (vimokṣaṇam): release, liberation

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It frames twelve-liṅga worship as a supreme vrata validated by accomplished sages, emphasizing liṅga-pūjā not merely as merit-making but as a disciplined path aimed at freeing the soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa) through Śiva as Paśupati.

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

By implying Śiva as Paśupati—the Lord of souls—who alone can sever pāśa, the verse aligns with Shaiva Siddhānta’s Pati–Paśu–Pāśa triad: Śiva (Pati) is the liberating principle, distinct from the bound soul yet graciously accessible through vrata and worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vrata centered on the “twelve liṅgas” is highlighted—an observance combining regulated worship, purity, and devotion, functioning as a Pāśupata-oriented discipline directed toward pāśa-vimocana (release from bondage).