Shloka 5

मुनिमोहशमनम्

Pāśupata-yoga, Siddhis, Puruṣa-darśana, Saṃsāra, and Prāṇa-Rudra Pañcāhutī

Devanagari script

अष्टशक्तिसमायुक्तम् अष्टमूर्तिमजं प्रभुम् ताभिश्चाष्टविधा रुद्राश् चतुःषष्टिविधाः पुनः

Transliteration

aṣṭaśaktisamāyuktam aṣṭamūrtimajaṃ prabhum tābhiścāṣṭavidhā rudrāś catuḥṣaṣṭividhāḥ punaḥ

Translation

Vereint mit den acht Śaktis wird der ungeborene Herr — der Höchste, von achtgestaltiger Form (Aṣṭamūrti) — verkündet. Durch eben diese Śaktis wird Rudra achtfach; und in weiterer Ausfaltung wird Er als vierundsechzigfach bezeichnet.

Word by Word

• अष्ट-शक्ति-समायुक्तम्: endowed/associated with eight powers (Śaktis)

• अष्ट-मूर्तिम्: possessing the eight forms (Aṣṭamūrti)

• अजम्: unborn, unoriginated

• प्रभुम्: the Lord, sovereign (Pati)

• ताभिः: through/by those (Śaktis)

• च: and

• अष्ट-विधाः: eightfold, of eight kinds

• रुद्राः: Rudras/forms of Rudra

• चतुः-षष्टि-विधाः: sixty-fourfold, of sixty-four kinds

• पुनः: again, furthermore

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It frames Linga worship as worship of Pati (Śiva) who is one yet manifests through Śakti as multiple forms; the Linga is thus approached as the single sign of the unborn Lord who pervades and governs all differentiated powers.

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

Śiva is described as aja (unborn) and prabhu (sovereign Pati), possessing the Aṣṭamūrti; His apparent multiplicity (eight and sixty-four Rudra-forms) arises from Śakti-based differentiation without compromising His essential oneness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports a Pāśupata-style contemplative practice: meditating on Śiva as Pati with Śakti—one reality appearing as many—so the pashu (soul) loosens pasha (bondage) by recognizing the Lord’s pervasive eightfold presence.