Shloka 17
Adhyaya 61 — ग्रह-नक्षत्र-स्थाननिर्णयः
Cosmic Abodes of Luminaries and the Shaiva Order of Time
द्युतिमानृषिपुत्रस्तु सोमो देवो वसुः स्मृतः शुक्रो देवस्तु विज्ञेयो भार्गवो ऽसुरयाजकः
dyutimānṛṣiputrastu somo devo vasuḥ smṛtaḥ śukro devastu vijñeyo bhārgavo 'surayājakaḥ
Der strahlende Soma, aus dem Sohn eines ṛṣi geboren, wird als Deva unter den Vasus erinnert. Und Śukra ist als Deva zu erkennen—der Bhārgava, der als Priester der Asuras dient.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
FAQs
It situates Linga-worship within the wider Vedic-cosmic order by identifying key celestial functionaries (Soma among the Vasus and Śukra as an officiant), implying that ritual power ultimately operates under the supreme Lord (Pati), Śiva.
Indirectly: by showing that even exalted devas and ritual authorities have defined roles and jurisdictions, the verse supports the Shaiva Siddhanta view that all such powers are subordinate instruments within the Lord’s (Pati’s) governance, while bound souls (paśu) remain distinct from Him.
Vedic priestly function (yajña-adhikāra) is highlighted—Śukra is identified as the Asuras’ ritual officiant—underscoring that correct ritual agency exists across realms, though for liberation the paśu must ultimately turn toward Śiva through Śiva-pūjā and Pāśupata-aligned discipline.