Shloka 26

दक्षयज्ञध्वंसः—वीरभद्रप्रेषणं, देवविष्ण्वोः पराजयः, पुनरनुग्रहः

Devanagari script

शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ता असंख्याताश् च जज्ञिरे तान्सर्वानपि देवो ऽसौ नारायणसमप्रभान्

Transliteration

śaṅkhacakragadāhastā asaṃkhyātāś ca jajñire tānsarvānapi devo 'sau nārāyaṇasamaprabhān

Translation

Countless beings were born, bearing conch, discus, and mace in their hands; and that Deva beheld them all as radiant—equal in splendor to Nārāyaṇa. Yet in the Shaiva understanding, such godly forms and powers arise within the field of Māyā, while Pati (Śiva) alone remains the independent Lord beyond all measures.

Word by Word

• शङ्ख (śaṅkha): conch

• चक्र (cakra): discus

• गदा (gadā): mace/club

• हस्ताः (hastāḥ): having in their hands

• असंख्याताः (asaṃkhyātāḥ): countless

• च (ca): and

• जज्ञिरे (jajñire): were born/arose

• तान् (tān): them

• सर्वान् (sarvān): all

• अपि (api): indeed/also

• देवः (devaḥ): the god/the Deva

• असौ (asau): that (one)

• नारायण (nārāyaṇa): Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu)

• सम (sama): equal

• प्रभान् (prabhān): in radiance/splendor

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even countless radiant divine forms (with iconic emblems) arise within creation; Linga worship centers on Pati—Śiva as the transcendent source beyond all manifested splendors.

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

By implication, it contrasts measurable glory (even Nārāyaṇa-like radiance) with the Shaiva Siddhānta view that Śiva-tattva is svatantra (independent) and the ultimate ground from which all deva-forms and powers appear.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A key Pāśupata takeaway is viveka (discriminative insight): recognizing deva-splendor as within Māyā while directing worship and yogic orientation to the Linga—Pati who liberates the paśu from pāśa.