Shloka 17

अन्धकानुग्रहः—शूलारोपणं, रुद्रस्मरण-फलम्, तथा गाणपत्य-प्रदानम् (अध्याय 93)

Devanagari script

तस्मादेतन्मया लब्धम् अन्यथा नोपपद्यते यः स्मरेन्मनसा रुद्रं प्राणान्ते सकृदेव वा

Transliteration

tasmādetanmayā labdham anyathā nopapadyate yaḥ smarenmanasā rudraṃ prāṇānte sakṛdeva vā

Translation

Darum habe ich diese Wahrheit erlangt; anders kann es nicht sein. Wer Rudra im Geist gedenkt—selbst nur ein einziges Mal im letzten Augenblick des Lebens—erlangt durch dieses Gedenken die ihm bestimmte Vollendung.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore

• एतत्: this (truth/result)

• मया: by me

• लब्धम्: obtained/realized

• अन्यथा: otherwise

• न उपपद्यते: does not stand/is not possible

• यः: whoever

• स्मरेत्: would remember

• मनसा: with the mind/mentally

• रुद्रम्: Rudra (Shiva, the Pati)

• प्राणान्ते: at the end of the life-breath/at death

• सकृत्: once

• एव: indeed/only

• वा: or/even

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the purport of Shaiva teaching within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates inner worship (mānasa-pūjā) by declaring that even a single, focused remembrance of Rudra at life’s end bears decisive spiritual fruit—showing that Linga worship culminates in unwavering Shiva-smṛti.

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

Rudra is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—whose mere recollection can sever the Pāśa (bondage) of the Pashu (embodied soul) when consciousness turns wholly toward Him.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Smaraṇa (one-pointed mental recollection) at prāṇānta is highlighted—aligned with Pāśupata-oriented inner discipline where mantra, devotion, and concentrated awareness become the essential practice.