Shloka 146

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

वामं पाशुपतं सोमं लाकुलं चैव भैरवम् / असेव्यमेतत् कथितं वेदवाह्यं तथेतरम्

Transliteration

vāmaṃ pāśupataṃ somaṃ lākulaṃ caiva bhairavam / asevyametat kathitaṃ vedavāhyaṃ tathetaram

Translation

বাম, পাশুপত, সৌম, লাকুল ও ভৈরব—এই পথগুলি বেদবাহ্য এবং সদাচারবিরোধী বলে অনুসরণ-অযোগ্য ঘোষণা করা হয়েছে।

Word by Word

• वामम्: left-hand (Vāmācāra)
• वामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata (sect/doctrine)
• पाशुपतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• सोमम्: Soma (sect/doctrine)
• सोमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• लाकुलम्: Lākula (sect/doctrine)
• लाकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• भैरवम्: Bhairava (sect/doctrine)
• भैरवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• असेव्यम्: not to be practiced
• असेव्यम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असेव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Neuter, Nominative singular)

• कथितम्: is said/declared
• कथितम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कथ्यते’ इत्यर्थे (said/declared)

• वेदवाह्यम्: outside the Veda
• वेदवाह्यम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + वाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वेदात् बाह्यम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nominative singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चय-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

• इतरम्: the other (also)
• इतरम्: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nominative singular)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (context of Upari-bhaga teachings)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kūrma (Vishnu)
• Pāśupata
• Sauma (Soma)
• Lākula (Lakulīśa)
• Bhairava
• Veda

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly: it prioritizes Veda-aligned discipline as the reliable means for realizing the highest truth, implying that liberation-oriented knowledge must be grounded in Vedic dharma rather than transgressive or anti-Vedic systems.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse functions as a boundary-marker: it discourages resorting to certain sectarian observances deemed ‘outside the Veda’, thereby steering aspirants toward Veda-sanctioned Shaiva-Vaishnava yogic discipline (niyama, purity, and scriptural conformity) rather than extreme or rule-breaking rites.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

With Vishnu (as Lord Kūrma) regulating Shaiva practice through Vedic standards, it reflects the Purana’s synthesis: devotion to Shiva is upheld when harmonized with Vedic dharma, not when framed as anti-Vedic opposition.