Shloka 28

युगधर्मवर्णनम् — चतुर्युग, गुण, धर्मपाद, तथा वार्तोत्पत्ति

Devanagari script

अमाक्षिकं महीवीर्यं पुटके पुटके मधु तेन ता वर्तयन्ति स्म सुखमायुः सदैव हि

Transliteration

amākṣikaṃ mahīvīryaṃ puṭake puṭake madhu tena tā vartayanti sma sukhamāyuḥ sadaiva hi

Translation

وكانوا يقتاتون بيسر، إذ إنّ أعمارهم كانت تدوم على الدوام، بذلك العسل المحفوظ في كلّ صندوق صغير—عسلٌ بلا نحل، لكنه مشحون بقوّة الأرض.

Word by Word

• amākṣikam: without bees / not produced by bees

• mahī-vīryam: endowed with the potency (vīrya) of the earth

• puṭake puṭake: in each small packet/casket

• madhu: honey / sweet essence

• tena: by that (means)

• tāḥ/te: they (those beings)

• vartayanti sma: they maintained/continued (their livelihood)

• sukham: comfortably, with ease

• āyuḥ: life-span, vitality

• sadaiva: always, continually

• hi: indeed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; inferred standard Linga Purana frame)

FAQs

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

It highlights purity and life-sustaining sattva: in Shaiva practice, offerings and supports of life should be śuddha (pure) and energizing, aligning the pashu (soul) toward Pati (Shiva) through disciplined, pure means.

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

Indirectly, it reflects Shiva-tattva as the sustaining ground (ādhāra) of vitality: the ‘earth’s potency’ and continuous life point to an ordered sustenance under cosmic law, ultimately governed by Pati, the Lord who upholds prāṇa and dharma.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A principle of śauca (purity) and sattvic āhāra/sustenance: using uncontaminated, ritually acceptable essence (madhu) to maintain vitality—compatible with Pashupata disciplines that regulate body and prāṇa to loosen pāśa (bondage).