Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30
शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti
प्रसन्ने सति देवेश पशौ तस्मिन्प्रवर्तते । अस्ति नाथो ममेत्यल्पा भक्तिर्बुद्धिपुरस्सरा
prasanne sati deveśa paśau tasminpravartate | asti nātho mametyalpā bhaktirbuddhipurassarā
اے دیویش! جب آپ راضی ہوتے ہیں تو اس بندھن زدہ ‘پشو’ جیَو میں بھی یہ بیداری اٹھتی ہے کہ ‘میرا ایک ناتھ ہے’؛ یوں عقل کی رہنمائی میں تھوڑی سی بھکتی آغاز پاتی ہے۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Significance: Highlights the first interior sign of grace: the paśu’s dawning trust ('asti nātho mama'). Pilgrimage is reinterpreted as moving from external seeking to inner reliance on the Lord as Protector.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that the bound soul (paśu) turns toward liberation only when Shiva (Pati) bestows grace; that grace first appears as the simple conviction, “I have a Lord,” which matures into bhakti and onward progress.
The verse points to a personal relationship with the Lord—“He is my Protector”—which is the inner basis of Saguna worship such as Linga-puja; external worship becomes effective when it is rooted in Shiva’s grace and awakened devotion.
Cultivate buddhi-purassarā bhakti by daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady Linga-dhyana, praying for Shiva’s prasada so devotion moves from small beginnings to liberating surrender.