Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

मातरः सर्वलोकानां गणानां चैव मातरः भूतानां मातरश्चैव जग्मुर्देवस्य पृष्ठतः

Transliteration

mātaraḥ sarvalokānāṃ gaṇānāṃ caiva mātaraḥ bhūtānāṃ mātaraścaiva jagmurdevasya pṛṣṭhataḥ

Translation

مضت أمهاتُ العوالم كلِّها—بل أمهاتُ الغَنا (الجموع الإلهية) وأمهاتُ جميع الكائنات—خلفَ الربّ، يتبعن أثره.

Word by Word

• mātaraḥ: the Mothers (Mātṛkās)

• sarva-lokānām: of all worlds

• gaṇānām: of the Gaṇas (Śiva’s hosts)

• ca eva: and indeed

• bhūtānām: of beings/elemental creatures

• mātaraḥ: mothers

• ca eva: and indeed

• jagmuḥ: went

• devasya: of the Deva (the Lord)

• pṛṣṭhataḥ: from behind/after, following

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Matrikas
• Ganas
• Bhutas

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Pati (the Lord) whose cosmic retinue includes the Mātṛkās—Shakti-powers that sustain and protect the worlds—implying that Linga-pūjā invokes not only Śiva but also His safeguarding Śakti-forces.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as the supreme Deva whom all sustaining powers (the Mothers) follow—signifying His lordship over gaṇas and bhūtas and His role as the inner ruler of all lokas, beyond pashu-pāśa limitations.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Śaiva pūjā where one honors Śiva together with His parivāra (Gaṇas, Bhūtas, and Mātṛkās); in Pāśupata-oriented practice, it reinforces seeking refuge in Pati with His protective Śakti to loosen pāśa (bondage).