Shloka 26

उपलेपनादिकथनम्

Vastraputa-jala, Ahimsa, and Conduct in Shiva Worship

Devanagari script

पुत्रेषु दारेषु गृहेषु नॄणां भक्तं यथा चित्तमथादिदेवे सकृत्प्रसंगाद्यतितापसानां तेषां न दूरः परमेशलोकः

Transliteration

putreṣu dāreṣu gṛheṣu nṝṇāṃ bhaktaṃ yathā cittamathādideve sakṛtprasaṃgādyatitāpasānāṃ teṣāṃ na dūraḥ parameśalokaḥ

Translation

Wie der Geist des Menschen in Hingabe an Söhne, Gattin und Haus hängt, so soll er dem Ādideva, dem uranfänglichen Herrn, dargebracht werden. Für Asketen und Übende der Tapas gilt: Erlangen sie auch nur einmal eine wahre Berührung (mit Ihm), ist Parameśvaras Reich nicht fern.

Word by Word

• पुत्रेषु: in sons

• दारेषु: in wife/spouse

• गृहेषु: in homes/household

• नॄणाम्: of men

• भक्तम्: devoted/attached

• यथा: just as

• चित्तम्: mind/heart-consciousness

• अथ: thus/thereupon

• आदिदेवे: in/unto the Primordial God (Shiva as Pati)

• सकृत्: once/even a single time

• प्रसंगात्: by contact/association/true encounter

• यति-तापसानाम्: of renunciants and austerity-performers

• तेषाम्: for them

• न: not

• दूरः: far

• परमेश-लोकः: the world/realm of Parameśvara (Shiva’s supreme abode)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching as part of the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parameshvara
• Adideva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the intense attachment normally given to family and home should be consciously redirected into single-pointed devotion to Ādideva Shiva—this inner bhakti is the core spirit behind Linga-puja and makes Shiva’s grace and proximity attainable.

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

Shiva is presented as Ādideva and Parameśvara—the Pati (Lord) whose loka is near to the pashu (individual soul) when bondage (pāśa) is weakened through devotion, tapas, and true contact with Him.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights bhakti supported by tapas and satsanga (sakṛt-prasaṅga)—a Pāśupata-oriented discipline where even one authentic encounter with Shiva-centric practice and remembrance can swiftly turn the mind away from pāśa and toward liberation.