Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

मत्तेभगामी मदलोलनेत्रा मत्तैः पिशाचैश् च गणैश् च मत्तैः मत्तेभचर्मांबरवेष्टिताङ्गी ययौ पुरस्ताच्च गणेश्वरस्य

Transliteration

mattebhagāmī madalolanetrā mattaiḥ piśācaiś ca gaṇaiś ca mattaiḥ mattebhacarmāṃbaraveṣṭitāṅgī yayau purastācca gaṇeśvarasya

Translation

ومشتْ مشيةَ الفيلِ السكران، وعيناها تتمايلان من نشوةِ الوجد؛ تحفّ بها جماعاتٌ من البيشاتشا الهائجة وغاناتٌ مخمورة، وقد لُفَّتْ أطرافُها بلباسٍ من جلدِ الفيل، فسارتْ أمام غانيشڤارا، سيّدِ الغانا.

Word by Word

• matta: intoxicated, frenzied

• ibha: elephant

• gāmī: moving, walking

• mada: intoxication, ecstatic heat

• lolā: wavering, restless

• netrā: eyed

• mattaiḥ: by/with the frenzied ones

• piśācaiḥ: with piśācas (fierce spirits)

• ca: and

• gaṇaiḥ: with the gaṇas (Shiva’s hosts)

• mattebhacarma: elephant-hide

• aṃbara: garment, cloth

• veṣṭita: wrapped, covered

• aṅgī: one whose limbs/body

• yayau: went, proceeded

• purastāt: in front, ahead

• gaṇeśvarasya: of/ before the Lord of the Gaṇas (Gaṇeśvara).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha
• Ganas
• Pishachas

FAQs

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

It portrays the awe-inspiring, boundary-transcending retinue that serves Pati (Shiva). In Linga worship, this supports the Siddhanta view that the Lord’s grace can purify even what appears fearsome or impure, drawing the pashu beyond pasha through devotion.

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

By highlighting Gaṇeśvara and his hosts, the verse points to Shiva-tattva as sovereign over all classes of beings—pure and impure—showing his lordship (pati-bhāva) and the power to integrate and liberate the bound soul (pashu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse evokes gaṇa-upāsanā and the fierce devotional mood found in Pāśupata-oriented practice—steadfast bhakti and fearlessness before Rudra’s forms—supporting inner purification rather than a specific external puja step.