Shloka 88

एकार्णव-सृष्टिक्रमः, ब्रह्म-विष्णु-परस्परप्रवेशः, शिवस्य आगमनं च

Devanagari script

अल्पसौख्यं बहुक्लेशं जराशोकसमन्वितम् जीवनं मरणं चैव संभवश् च पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

alpasaukhyaṃ bahukleśaṃ jarāśokasamanvitam jīvanaṃ maraṇaṃ caiva saṃbhavaś ca punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

Das weltliche, verkörperte Leben bringt nur wenig Glück und viel Leid; es ist verbunden mit Alter und Kummer — Leben und Tod und Wiedergeburt immer von Neuem.

Word by Word

• alpa-saukhyaṃ: little happiness

• bahu-kleśaṃ: much suffering/affliction

• jarā: old age

• śoka: sorrow

• samanvitam: accompanied by/connected with

• jīvanam: living/embodied life

• maraṇam: death

• ca eva: and indeed

• saṃbhavaḥ: birth/origination (rebirth)

• punaḥ punaḥ: again and again

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya, conveying the puranic critique of saṃsāra as impetus for Shiva-upasana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes vairāgya (dispassion) by exposing saṃsāra as mostly suffering; this becomes the inner qualification for turning to the Linga—Shiva as Pati—through whose grace and worship the pashu can be released from pāśa and rebirth.

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

By contrasting repeated birth-death with the implied goal beyond it, the verse points to Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati—free from jarā, śoka, and saṃsāra—who grants mokṣa when approached with right understanding and devotion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse primarily highlights the yogic foundation of vairāgya and viveka needed for Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā; it implicitly supports steady Shiva-upāsanā (Linga-pūjā, japa, and dhyāna) aimed at cutting the bonds that cause repeated saṃbhava.