Shloka 53

अध्याय ९६: शरभ-प्रादुर्भावः, नृसिंह-दर्पशमनम्, विष्णोः शिवस्तुतिः, फलश्रुति

Devanagari script

निद्रापरवशः शेषे स कथं सात्त्विको भवान् त्वदादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तं रुद्रशक्तिविजृम्भितम्

Transliteration

nidrāparavaśaḥ śeṣe sa kathaṃ sāttviko bhavān tvadādistambaparyantaṃ rudraśaktivijṛmbhitam

Translation

إن كنتَ مضطجعًا على شِيشا (Śeṣa) مستسلِمًا لسلطان النوم، فكيف تدّعي أنك ساتفِكِيٌّ خالص (sāttvika)؟ منكَ إلى العمود الكوني (stambha)، كلُّ هذا ليس إلا انبساط شَكتي رُدرا (Rudra-Śakti) واتساعها.

Word by Word

• निद्रापरवशः: overpowered by sleep

• शेषे: upon Śeṣa (Ananta)

• स: he/that one (you)

• कथं: how

• सात्त्विकः: sāttvika, of the quality of sattva/purity

• भवान्: you (honorific)

• त्वदादि: beginning from you

• स्तम्बपर्यन्तम्: up to the pillar/column’s limit

• रुद्रशक्ति: Rudra’s power (Śiva-Śakti)

• विजृम्भितम्: expanded, unfolded, manifested in full.

Speaker

Brahma (challenging Vishnu within the stambha/Linga narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shesha
• Rudra
• Shakti
• Stambha (Cosmic Pillar/Linga)

FAQs

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

It frames the stambha (Linga) as the visible sign of the limitless Pati (Śiva), declaring that cosmic manifestation is Rudra-Śakti’s expansion—thereby grounding Linga-pūjā in the recognition of Śiva as the source and measure of all.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati whose Śakti unfolds the entire field of experience; even the so-called sāttvika deity is shown to be dependent and conditioned, while Rudra-Śakti stands as the transcendent-immanent power behind all tattvas.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata orientation: shift identity from the conditioned pashu (bound by guṇas like sleep) to contemplation of Pati as the stambha/Linga—meditating on Śiva-Śakti as the ground of manifestation.