Shloka 48

दक्षयज्ञध्वंसः—वीरभद्रप्रेषणं, देवविष्ण्वोः पराजयः, पुनरनुग्रहः

Devanagari script

तुष्टाव देवदेवेशं शङ्करं वृषभध्वजम् स्तुतस्तेन महातेजाः प्रदाय विविधान्वरान्

Transliteration

tuṣṭāva devadeveśaṃ śaṅkaraṃ vṛṣabhadhvajam stutastena mahātejāḥ pradāya vividhānvarān

Translation

He praised Śaṅkara, Lord of the gods, whose banner bears the Bull. Pleased by that hymn, the mighty and radiant Lord bestowed various boons—grace that loosens the pāśa, the bondage of the paśu (the individual soul), through the favor of Pati, Śiva.

Word by Word

• तुष्टाव (tuṣṭāva): praised, extolled

• देव-देवेशम् (deva-deveśam): the Lord of the gods

• शङ्करम् (śaṅkaram): Śaṅkara, the beneficent one (Śiva)

• वृषभ-ध्वजम् (vṛṣabha-dhvajam): whose emblem/banner is the bull (Nandin)

• स्तुतः (stutaḥ): being praised

• तेन (tena): by him/thereby

• महा-तेजाः (mahā-tejāḥ): of great splendor, the greatly radiant One

• प्रदाय (pradāya): having granted, bestowing

• विविधान् (vividhān): various, manifold

• वरान् (varān): boons, blessings

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Vrsabhadhvaja (Shiva as Bull-bannered)

FAQs

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

It shows the core Linga Purana principle that sincere stuti (devotional praise) to Śiva—the Pati—invokes anugraha (grace), which culminates in vara-pradāna (boon-giving) and supports the devotee’s movement from bondage (pāśa) toward auspiciousness.

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

Śiva is presented as Devadeveśa (supreme over the gods) and Mahātejas (transcendent radiance), yet responsive to devotion—His sovereignty is paired with compassion, granting boons as a function of divine grace rather than mere transaction.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights stuti as a primary upāya (means): devotional recitation/praise that aligns the pashu with Pati; it is consistent with Pāśupata orientation where devotion and surrender become the doorway to Śiva’s liberating anugraha.