Upanishads · Bhasmajābāla 2.30
॥
Devanāgarī
मामेवं विदित्वा संसृतिपाशात्प्रमुच्यते । तस्मादहं पशुपाशविमोचकः
Transliteration (IAST)
māmevaṃ viditvā saṃsṛtipāśātpramucyate | tasmādahaṃ paśupāśavimocakaḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
माम् एवं विदित्वाmām evaṃ viditvāhaving known me thus
संसृति-पाशात् प्रमुच्यतेsaṃsṛti-pāśāt pramucyatehe is released from the bonds of the cycle
तस्मात् अहं पशु-पाश-विमोचकःtasmāt ahaṃ paśu-pāśa-vimocakaḥtherefore I am the releaser of the bonds of the herd
Translation
«Having known me thus, he is released from the bonds of the cycle; therefore I am the releaser of the bonds of the herd».
Version
fb34c28a5007 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Paśu-pāśa-vimocaka, «releaser of the bonds of the herd», is named; these words are foundational in Śaiva theology, and so deserve unpacking. Three concepts: pati, «lord»; paśu, «herd»; pāśa, «bonds». The Lord is Śiva; the herd is the souls; the bonds are what binds them.
The image is taken from herding: souls are called tethered animals, and the Lord unties them. Worth noting that this image, unappealing as it may sound, is precise in one thing that matters: a tethered animal cannot untie itself. It can pull, strain, and cry out; it cannot loosen the knot with its teeth.
Hence comes everything the Vaishnava side says about mercy; and it must be admitted that here it agrees fully with the Śaiva. The difference between them lies elsewhere and shows up in the word paśu. For cattle are untied so that they may go; but on the Vaishnava reading the soul is not cattle but nitya-dāsa, «an eternal servant» — and a servant is not untied, but taken back.
The difference shows in what happens after the untying. On the first reading — freedom; on the second — service. And so one teaching ends with the bonds having fallen away, and the other with the person standing beside Him.