Shloka 68

सूर्यरथ-रचना, ध्रुव-प्रेरणा, मास-गणाः च

Jyotish-chakra: Surya’s Motion and Monthly Retinues

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव नृत्यगेयैरुपासते ग्रामणीयक्षभूतानि कुर्वते ऽभीषुसंग्रहम्

Transliteration

gandharvāpsarasaścaiva nṛtyageyairupāsate grāmaṇīyakṣabhūtāni kurvate 'bhīṣusaṃgraham

Translation

الغندهرفا والأبساراس يعبدونه بالرقص والغناء؛ وأما رؤساء الياكشا والبهوتا فيقومون بجمع أشعته المتلألئة وترتيبها على نظام، خادمين الربّ (Pati) بحسب الوظائف المعيّنة لهم.

Word by Word

• गन्धर्व (gandharva): celestial musician

• अप्सरस (apsaras): celestial nymph

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• नृत्य (nṛtya): dance

• गेय (geya): song, chant

• उपासते (upāsate): worship, attend upon

• ग्रामणी (grāmaṇī): leader, chief

• यक्ष (yakṣa): yaksha attendant-spirit

• भूतानि (bhūtāni): bhutas, elemental beings/attendants

• कुर्वते (kurvate): they do, they perform

• अभीषु (abhīṣu): rays, beams (of light)

• संग्रह (saṃgraha): collection, gathering, arrangement

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Apsarases
• Yakshas
• Bhutas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It depicts Linga-centered upāsanā as both ritual and cosmic: celestial beings offer nāda (song) and nṛtta (dance), while Shiva’s attendants maintain the Lord’s radiance and order—showing that worship aligns the devotee with Pati’s universal rhythm.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as the radiant sovereign (Pati) whose light and power are organized and expressed through His gaṇas; the universe functions as His service-field, while beings participate according to their dharma.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Upāsanā through sacred sound and performance (geya-nṛtya) is highlighted—devotional discipline that can be internalized in Pāśupata-oriented practice as regulated offering of speech, breath, and attention to the Lord.