Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

मातरः सुरवरारिसूदनाः सादरं सुरगणैः सुपूजिताः मातरं ययुरथ स्ववाहनैः स्वैर्गणैर्ध्वजधरैः समन्ततः

Transliteration

mātaraḥ suravarārisūdanāḥ sādaraṃ suragaṇaiḥ supūjitāḥ mātaraṃ yayuratha svavāhanaiḥ svairgaṇairdhvajadharaiḥ samantataḥ

Translation

ثم إن الأمهاتِ الإلهيات—قاتلاتِ أعداءِ خيرةِ الدِّيفات—وقد نلن عبادةً موقّرة من جموعِ الدِّيفات، مضين إلى «الأم» أي الشاكتي العظمى، راكباتٍ مراكبَهنّ الخاصة، ومحاطاتٍ من كل جانبٍ بحاشيتهنّ حَمَلةِ الرايات.

Word by Word

• मातरः: the Mothers (Mātṛkās)

• सुरवरारिसूदनाः: destroyers of the enemies of the foremost Devas

• सादरम्: with reverence

• सुरगणैः: by the hosts of gods

• सुपूजिताः: well worshipped/honoured

• मातरम्: to the Mother (the Great Mother, Śakti)

• ययुः: went/proceeded

• अथ: then

• स्ववाहनैः: with their own vehicles/mounts

• स्वैर्गणैः: with their own attendants/hosts

• ध्वजधरैः: bearing banners/standards

• समन्ततः: on all sides/everywhere around.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages; internal scene-description)

Characters & Entities

• Mātṛkās
• Devas
• Mahā-Mātā (Śakti)

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-centered worship as a complete Shaiva cosmos: Devas honour the Mātṛkās, and the Mātṛkās move toward the Supreme Mother—showing that Śiva’s worship is inseparable from Śakti and her protective hosts who uphold the rite and its sanctity.

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

Indirectly, it presents Shiva-tattva as Pati empowered through Śakti: the Mothers, as divine powers, act as instruments that subdue hostile forces, implying that the Lord’s governance and grace operate through Śakti’s manifold energies.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights the puranic template for protective invocation (āvaraṇa/pariṣada): worship of divine powers and their gaṇas before approaching the supreme focal divinity—useful in Shaiva puja where Śakti and attendant hosts are honoured to remove obstacles (pāśa) for the practitioner (paśu).