Shloka 21

Adhyaya 33: Pashupata Conduct, Bhasma-Vrata, and Shiva’s Boon to the Sages

Devanagari script

गौतमो ऽत्रिः सुकेशश् च पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः मरीचिः कश्यपः कण्वः संवर्तश् च महातपाः

Transliteration

gautamo 'triḥ sukeśaś ca pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ marīciḥ kaśyapaḥ kaṇvaḥ saṃvartaś ca mahātapāḥ

Translation

غوتَما، وأتري، وسوكِيشا؛ وبولاستيا، وبولَها، وكراتو؛ ومَريچي، وكاشيابا، وكانڤا، وسَمْڤارتا—هؤلاء هم الزهّاد العظام، الأقوياء في التَّپَس (tapas).

Word by Word

• गौतमः: Gautama (a great sage)

• अत्रिः: Atri (a great sage)

• सुकेशः: Sukeśa (a sage)

• च: and

• पुलस्त्यः: Pulastya (a Prajāpati-sage)

• पुलहः: Pulaha (a Prajāpati-sage)

• क्रतुः: Kratu (a Prajāpati-sage)

• मरीचिः: Marīci (a mind-born sage of Brahmā)

• कश्यपः: Kaśyapa (progenitor-sage)

• कण्वः: Kaṇva (a sage)

• संवर्तः: Saṃvarta (a sage)

• महातपाः: great ascetics / those of immense austerity

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Atri
• Sukeśa
• Pulastya
• Pulaha
• Kratu
• Marīci
• Kaśyapa
• Kaṇva
• Saṃvarta

FAQs

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

It establishes the rishi-lineage (ṛṣi-paramparā) that preserves mantra, ritual order, and dharma—foundational for Śiva-liṅga installation and worship as transmitted through authoritative seers.

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

Indirectly, by honoring the mahātapas sages whose tapas becomes a vessel for Śiva’s anugraha (grace): Pati (Śiva) is approached through purified consciousness, while the pashu (individual soul) is refined by tapas to loosen pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity/discipline) is highlighted as the core yogic force—aligned with Pāśupata discipline—by which sages gain steadiness, purity, and eligibility for Śaiva mantra and liṅga-upāsanā.