Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5
पाशुपतज्ञानप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Pāśupata Knowledge
Paśu–Pāśa–Paśupati
तदेव पृष्टं कृष्णेन विष्णुना विश्वयोनिना । पशुत्वं च सुरादीनां पतित्वं च शिवस्य च
tadeva pṛṣṭaṃ kṛṣṇena viṣṇunā viśvayoninā | paśutvaṃ ca surādīnāṃ patitvaṃ ca śivasya ca
此事亦为黑天——作为宇宙本源的毗湿奴——所问：即诸天等亦具“兽性/受缚者之态”(paśutva)，以及湿婆之“主宰性”(patitva)。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Doctrinal framing rather than a shrine narrative: even devas are ‘paśu’ (bound) under pāśa; Śiva alone is Pati.
Significance: Cultivates humility and śaraṇāgati: recognizing even exalted beings as bound underscores the necessity of Śiva’s grace for liberation.
FAQs
It frames a core Shaiva Siddhanta teaching: even devas can remain paśu (bound by pāśa), while Śiva alone is Pati—the independent Lord who grants grace and liberation.
By declaring Śiva as Pati, it supports Linga/Saguna worship as devotion directed to the supreme liberator, not merely to a powerful deva; the Linga represents the Lord who transcends and governs all categories of beings.
The takeaway is surrender to Pati through Shaiva practice—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative inquiry into paśu–pāśa–pati to cultivate detachment and seek Śiva’s grace.