Shloka 17

अन्धक-हिरण्याक्ष-प्रसङ्गः, वराहावतारः, दंष्ट्राभूषणं च

Devanagari script

तव रोम्णि सकलामरेश्वरानयनद्वये शशिरवी पदद्वये /* निहिता रसातलगता वसुंधरा तव पृष्ठतः सकलतारकादयः

Transliteration

tava romṇi sakalāmareśvarānayanadvaye śaśiravī padadvaye /* nihitā rasātalagatā vasuṃdharā tava pṛṣṭhataḥ sakalatārakādayaḥ

Translation

O Mahādeva—in den Haaren Deines Leibes wohnen alle Herren der Devas; in Deinen beiden Augen weilen Sonne und Mond; an Deinen beiden Füßen ruht die Erde, niedergelegt auf die Tiefen von Rasātala; und hinter Deinem Rücken stehen alle Sterne und himmlischen Heerscharen. So wird das ganze All in Dir getragen—im Pati jenseits aller pāśa (Fesseln).

Word by Word

• तव (tava): your

• रोम्णि (romṇi): in the body-hairs/pores

• सकल (sakala): all

• अमर-ईश्वराः (amara-īśvarāḥ): the lords of the immortals (devas)

• नयन-द्वये (nayana-dvaye): in the two eyes

• शशि (śaśi): the Moon

• रवि (ravi): the Sun

• पद-द्वये (pada-dvaye): in/at the two feet

• निहिता (nihitā): placed, established

• रसातल-गता (rasātala-gatā): situated in Rasātala (nether region)

• वसुंधरा (vasuṃdharā): the Earth

• पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhataḥ): behind, at the back

• सकल-तारक-आदयः (sakala-tāraka-ādayaḥ): all the stars and other celestial bodies/beings

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a hymn/praise embedded in the Purva-Bhaga narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Surya
• Chandra
• Devas
• Earth (Vasundhara)
• Stars (Tarakas)
• Rasatala

FAQs

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

It frames the Liṅga as the sign of the all-supporting Pati: worship is not merely of a form, but of Shiva in whom devas, luminaries, earth, and stars are established—making liṅga-pūjā a direct approach to the cosmic ground.

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

Shiva is presented as the adhāra (substratum) of the universe: the cosmos appears as located in His limbs, implying His transcendence and immanence—Pati beyond pasha, yet pervading all tattvas.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative upāsanā aligned with Pāśupata orientation: meditate on Shiva’s viśvarūpa (Sun-Moon as eyes, Earth at feet) while offering to the Liṅga, to weaken pasha (bondage) and steady the pashu (individual soul) toward Pati.