Shloka 35

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

पृथक्पशुत्वं देवानां तथान्येषां सुरोत्तमाः कल्पयित्वैव वध्यास्ते नान्यथा नैव सत्तमाः

Transliteration

pṛthakpaśutvaṃ devānāṃ tathānyeṣāṃ surottamāḥ kalpayitvaiva vadhyāste nānyathā naiva sattamāḥ

Translation

يا خيرَ الآلهة! إنّ تلك الكائنات لا تُقدَّم قربانًا (بَلي bali) إلا بعد أن تُعيَّن صراحةً بوصفها «بَشو» (paśu) منفصلةً للنسك؛ ولا يكون الأمر على غير ذلك—هكذا يصرّح النبلاء. وفي الدَّرما لا يجوز إيذاء النفس المقيَّدة (بَشو) بلا ضابط؛ وإنما يُقدَّم بَلي ما أقرّه الطقسُ وحده.

Word by Word

• pṛthak: separately/distinctly

• paśutvam: the state of being a paśu/animal or designated victim

• devānām: of the gods

• tathā: likewise

• anyeṣām: of others (other beings)

• sura-uttamāḥ: O best among the gods

• kalpayitvā: having prescribed/appointed, having determined

• eva: only/indeed

• vadhyāḥ: fit to be slain/immolated (ritually)

• te: they/those

• na anyathā: not otherwise

• na eva: never indeed

• sat-tamāḥ: the best/noblest (the righteous authorities).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating normative dharma within the Linga Purana’s Shaiva framework)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva-oriented ritual as shastra-governed: offerings (bali) are valid only when properly designated by vidhi, reinforcing that Linga worship is rooted in disciplined dharma, not arbitrary violence.

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

By implication, Shiva-tattva is the upholder of dharma and inner restraint: the Pati (Lord) sanctions order and purification, while the paśu (bound soul) is not to be harmed outside sacred rule—pointing to Shiva as regulator of karmic and ritual law.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritual practice: proper bali-vidhi—only what is formally appointed as ‘paśu’ is offerable. Yogic takeaway (Pāśupata): cultivate niyama and discrimination (viveka), acting only under right injunction, not impulse.