Shloka 23

श्वेतमुनिना कालस्य निग्रहः (मृत्युञ्जय-भक्ति-प्रसादः)

Devanagari script

विनेदुरुच्चमीश्वराः सुरेश्वरा महेश्वरम् प्रणेमुरंबिकामुमां मुनीश्वरास्तु हर्षिताः

Transliteration

vineduruccamīśvarāḥ sureśvarā maheśvaram praṇemuraṃbikāmumāṃ munīśvarāstu harṣitāḥ

Translation

Da erschallten die erhabenen Götter und ihre Fürsten in lautem Lobpreis; die himmlischen Herrscher verneigten sich vor Mahādeva, und die Herren der Munis—von Freude erfüllt—warfen sich vor Ambikā Umā nieder, der Śakti des Höchsten selbst.

Word by Word

• विनेदुः: resounded/raised a loud sound (of praise)

• उच्चम्: loudly, on high

• ईश्वराः: lords (chief beings)

• सुरेश्वराः: lords of the gods, divine rulers

• महेश्वरम्: to Maheśvara (Great Lord Śiva)

• प्रणेमुः: they bowed/prostrated

• अम्बिकाम्: to Ambikā (Divine Mother)

• उमाम्: to Umā (Pārvatī)

• मुनीश्वराः: lords among sages

• तु: and/indeed

• हर्षिताः: delighted, joy-filled

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the scene to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheshvara/Mahadeva)
• Parvati (Ambika/Uma)
• Devas (Sureshvaras)
• Munis (Munishvaras)

FAQs

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

It establishes the archetypal posture of Linga-centered devotion: audible stuti and full namaskāra to Pati (Śiva) together with reverence to His Śakti (Umā), indicating that worship is complete when Shiva is honored with Shakti.

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

Śiva appears as Maheśvara—the supreme Lord (Pati) worthy of the devas’ surrender—while the sages’ joy signals His grace-bestowing sovereignty that loosens pāśa (bondage) and uplifts the pashu (bound soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights stuti (devotional praise) and praṇāma (prostration) as foundational acts of Śaiva pūjā; as inner practice, it aligns with bhakti-based surrender that supports Pāśupata-oriented discipline.