Shloka 157

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

अनन्तपादस् त्वम् अनन्तबाहुर् अनन्तमूर्धान्तकरः शिवश् च अनन्तमूर्तिः कथम् ईदृशं त्वां तोष्ये ह्य् अतोष्यं कथमीदृशं त्वाम्

Transliteration

anantapādas tvam anantabāhur anantamūrdhāntakaraḥ śivaś ca anantamūrtiḥ katham īdṛśaṃ tvāṃ toṣye hy atoṣyaṃ kathamīdṛśaṃ tvām

Translation

Du bist der mit unendlichen Füßen, unendlichen Armen und unendlichen Häuptern—der alles beendende Herr, Śiva selbst. Deine Gestalt ist endlos; wie könnte ich Dich je zufriedenstellen—Dich, der wahrhaft jenseits des Zufriedengestelltwerdens ist—wie könnte man Dich, den Unendlichen, erfreuen?

Word by Word

• अनन्त-पादः: having infinite feet

• त्वम्: you

• अनन्त-बाहुः: having infinite arms

• अनन्त-मूर्धा: having infinite heads

• अन्त-करः: the maker of the end (the one who brings dissolution/termination)

• शिवः: Shiva, the auspicious Lord

• च: and

• अनन्त-मूर्तिः: of infinite forms

• कथम्: how

• ईदृशम्: such, of this kind

• त्वाम्: you

• तोष्ये: may I satisfy/please

• हि: indeed

• अतोष्यम्: not to be satisfied (beyond complete appeasement)

• कथम्: how

• ईदृशम्: such

• त्वाम्: you

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a devotee’s stuti to Shiva within the Purva-Bhaga discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva as ananta—limitless in limbs and forms—implying the Linga as the non-finite, non-measurable sign of Pati; worship is thus not about “completing” an offering but about continual surrender and devotion.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as infinite (ananta) and as the one who brings the end (antakara) at dissolution; He transcends all finite praise and remains beyond full appeasement, indicating His supremacy as Pati over all pashus.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is bhakti with dainya (humble inadequacy) and śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): recognizing the pashu’s limitation under pāśa and turning to Pati through stuti and steady pūjā without expecting to “measure up” to the Infinite.