Shloka 66

Adhyaya 63: Daksha’s Progeny, Kashyapa’s Offspring, and the Rishi-Vamshas that Sustain the Worlds

Devanagari script

विभीषणो ऽतिशुद्धात्मा धर्मज्ञः परिकीर्तितः पुलस्त्यस्य मृगाः पुत्राः सर्वे व्याघ्राश् च दंष्ट्रिणः

Transliteration

vibhīṣaṇo 'tiśuddhātmā dharmajñaḥ parikīrtitaḥ pulastyasya mṛgāḥ putrāḥ sarve vyāghrāś ca daṃṣṭriṇaḥ

Translation

Vibhīṣaṇa wird als von höchst geläuterter Seele und als Kenner des Dharma gepriesen. Die Söhne Pulastyas gelten als wild wie Tiere der Wildnis: alle tigerhaft und mit Fangzähnen bewehrt.

Word by Word

• विभीषणः: Vibhīṣaṇa

• अतिशुद्धात्मा: of exceedingly pure nature/self

• धर्मज्ञः: knower of dharma

• परिकीर्तितः: is declared/proclaimed

• पुलस्त्यस्य: of Pulastya

• मृगाः: wild beasts/creatures of the forest

• पुत्राः: sons

• सर्वे: all

• व्याघ्राः: tigers (tiger-like)

• च: and

• दंष्ट्रिणः: fanged/with tusks

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Vibhishana
• Pulastya

FAQs

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

It contrasts inner purity and dharma-knowledge (as in Vibhīṣaṇa) with fierce, instinct-driven tendencies, implying that true fitness for Śiva-bhakti and Liṅga-upāsanā depends on śuddhi (purification) and dharma rather than mere birth or power.

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

Indirectly, it points to Śiva as Pati—the purifier and lord of dharma—because the highest praise here is ‘atiśuddhātmā’ and ‘dharmajñaḥ,’ qualities that arise when the pashu (soul) aligns with Śiva’s order (dharma) and is freed from pasha-like impulses.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes ethical and inner purification as the foundation—aligned with Pāśupata discipline—where dharma-jñāna and śuddhi of the self are prerequisites for effective Śiva-pūjā and deeper yogic steadiness.