Shloka 18

ब्रह्मनारायणस्तवः — शिवस्य प्रभवत्व-प्रतिपादनम्

Devanagari script

मन्त्राणां प्रभवे तुभ्यं मन्त्राधिपतये नमः पितॄणां पतये चैव पशूनां पतये नमः

Transliteration

mantrāṇāṃ prabhave tubhyaṃ mantrādhipataye namaḥ pitṝṇāṃ pataye caiva paśūnāṃ pataye namaḥ

Translation

আপনাকে নমস্কার—আপনিই সকল মন্ত্রের উৎস; মন্ত্রাধিপতিকে নমস্কার। পিতৃগণের পতিকে নমস্কার, এবং সকল পশু/বন্ধজীবের পতিকে (পশুপতি) নমস্কার।

Word by Word

• मन्त्राणाम्: of mantras

• प्रभवे: to the source/origin

• तुभ्यम्: to You

• मन्त्राधिपतये: to the sovereign/lord of mantras

• नमः: salutations

• पितॄणाम्: of the Pitṛs (ancestral spirits)

• पतये: to the lord/master

• च एव: and indeed/also

• पशूनाम्: of paśus (creatures

• पतये: to the Lord (Pashupati)

• नमः: salutations

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a hymn of praise within the Purva-Bhaga context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It frames Linga worship as mantra-rooted: Shiva is praised as the very source and ruler of mantra, so offering mantra-japa to the Linga is treated as direct alignment with the supreme Mantrādhipati.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati—the transcendent Lord who governs both sacred sound (mantra) and living beings (paśu), implying His sovereignty over bondage (pāśa) and His capacity to grant release through grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa and mantra-upāsanā are emphasized; in a Pāśupata/Shaiva Siddhanta reading, mantra discipline becomes a means for the paśu to turn toward the Pati for purification and liberation.