Shloka 17

ग्रहसंख्यावर्णनम् — ध्रुवस्य तपोबलात् ध्रुवस्थानप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तः स मुनिः श्रीमान् प्रहसन्न् इदम् अब्रवीत् राजपुत्र शृणुष्वेदं स्थानमुत्तममाप्स्यसि

Transliteration

ityuktaḥ sa muniḥ śrīmān prahasann idam abravīt rājaputra śṛṇuṣvedaṃ sthānamuttamamāpsyasi

Translation

So angesprochen sprach der ruhmreiche Weise lächelnd: „O Königssohn, höre dies; dadurch wirst du die höchste Wohnstatt erlangen.“

Word by Word

• इति-उक्तः: thus spoken to/thus addressed

• सः: he

• मुनिः: sage

• श्रीमान्: illustrious, venerable

• प्रहसन्: smiling, gently laughing

• इदम्: this

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke

• राजपुत्र: O prince/son of a king

• शृणुष्व: listen

• इदम्: this

• स्थानम्: abode, state, station

• उत्तमम्: supreme, highest

• आप्स्यसि: you will obtain/attain

Speaker

The sage (muni) speaking to the prince (rājaputra) within Suta’s narration

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga-centered teaching as an upadeśa (initiatory instruction): attentive hearing and practice of the forthcoming discipline leads the devotee toward the “supreme abode,” i.e., Shiva’s highest state beyond bondage.

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

By pointing to an “uttama-sthāna” attainable through the sage’s instruction, the verse implies Shiva as Pati—the transcendent goal and refuge—whose dhāma is the highest ontological station beyond pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śravaṇa (reverent listening) as the doorway to practice—typically leading into Shaiva observances such as Linga-pūjā and Pashupata-oriented sādhanā that culminate in liberation.