Shloka 14

Adhyaya 61 — ग्रह-नक्षत्र-स्थाननिर्णयः

Cosmic Abodes of Luminaries and the Shaiva Order of Time

Devanagari script

मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु देवस्थानानि तानि वै अभिमानिनो ऽवतिष्ठन्ते देवाः स्थानं पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

manvantareṣu sarveṣu devasthānāni tāni vai abhimānino 'vatiṣṭhante devāḥ sthānaṃ punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

In jedem Manvantara bleiben jene göttlichen Wohnstätten wahrhaft bestehen; und die waltenden Devas—mit ihren jeweiligen Ämtern identifiziert—nehmen dort immer wieder ihren Platz ein und kehren wiederholt zu denselben Posten zurück.

Word by Word

• मन्वन्तरेषु: in the Manvantaras (cosmic cycles of a Manu)

• सर्वेषु: in all

• देवस्थानानि: divine abodes/temples/holy seats

• तानि: those

• वै: indeed

• अभिमानिनः: those who identify with (and preside over) an office/seat, the presiding deities

• अवतिष्ठन्ते: remain stationed/abide

• देवाः: the gods (Devas)

• स्थानम्: station/post/seat

• पुनः पुनः: again and again, repeatedly

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Manu (Manvantara)

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva’s sacred geography as enduring across Manvantaras: devasthānas (holy seats where worship is performed) persist, and officiating powers cycle through them—supporting the idea that Linga-abodes and their worship are perennial, not temporary.

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

By implication, Shiva as Pati is the stable ground of sacred order, while Devas as office-holders repeatedly assume stations; the verse hints that what is truly constant is the divine seat/order upheld ultimately by Mahadeva, beyond changing cosmic administrations.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is discipline against abhimāna (role-identification): Pashupata-oriented practice treats posts and powers as cyclical, encouraging the sādhaka (pashu) to seek refuge in Pati through steady worship at sacred seats (devasthāna/Linga-sthāna) rather than clinging to transient status.