Shloka 31

अन्धक-हिरण्याक्ष-प्रसङ्गः, वराहावतारः, दंष्ट्राभूषणं च

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणश् च तथान्येषां देवानामपि लीलया विभुरङ्गविभागेन भूषितो न यदि प्रभुः

Transliteration

brahmaṇaś ca tathānyeṣāṃ devānāmapi līlayā vibhuraṅgavibhāgena bhūṣito na yadi prabhuḥ

Translation

Wenn der souveräne Herr—der Allgegenwärtige—nicht in seinem göttlichen Līlā durch die differenzierten Funktionen und Ämter Brahmās und der anderen Götter geschmückt wäre, dann hätten eben diese Gottheiten keinerlei Kraft zu handeln. Denn ihre Fähigkeiten entspringen allein Pati, dem Herrn, der die kosmischen Rollen zuteilt.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ): of Brahmā

• च (ca): and

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• अन्येषाम् (anyeṣām): of others

• देवानाम् (devānām): of the gods

• अपि (api): even/also

• लीलया (līlayā): by divine play

• विभुः (vibhuḥ): the all-pervading Lord

• अङ्ग-विभागेन (aṅga-vibhāgena): by division of limbs/parts i.e., by allocating functions and roles

• भूषितः (bhūṣitaḥ): adorned, invested, empowered

• न (na): not

• यदि (yadi): if

• प्रभुः (prabhuḥ): the Lord, sovereign.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the puranic teaching; verse expresses the devas’ doctrinal praise of Shiva as Pati)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga worship in the principle that Shiva (Pati) alone empowers all divine offices; worship of the Linga is worship of the source behind Brahma and the other devas’ capacities.

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

Shiva is Vibhu and Prabhu—the all-pervading sovereign—who, by līlā, distributes differentiated functions to gods; their power is dependent, while his lordship is independent.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied practice is Pashupata-oriented inner recollection (smaraṇa) that all agency belongs to Pati; in puja, offerings to the Linga are made with the understanding that all deities’ powers return to Shiva as their source.