Shloka 38

मदनदाहः — पार्वतीतपः, स्वयंवरलीला, देवस्तम्भनं, दिव्यचक्षुर्दानम्

Devanagari script

पूषा दन्तान् दशन् दन्तैर् बालमैक्षत मोहितः तस्यापि दशनाः पेतुर् दृष्टमात्रस्य शंभुना

Transliteration

pūṣā dantān daśan dantair bālamaikṣata mohitaḥ tasyāpi daśanāḥ petur dṛṣṭamātrasya śaṃbhunā

Translation

Pūṣan, bewildered, clenched his teeth and stared at the child; yet the moment Śambhu merely cast His glance, Pūṣan’s own teeth fell out. Thus is the Pati (Lord) unconquerable—bondage (pāśa) collapses by His will alone.

Word by Word

• पूषा (pūṣā): Pūṣan, the solar deity

• दन्तान् (dantān): the teeth

• दशन् (daśan): biting, clenching

• दन्तैः (dantaiḥ): with (his) teeth

• बालम् (bālam): the child (Vīrabhadra/Śiva’s fierce emanation)

• ऐक्षत (aikṣata): looked at, beheld

• मोहितः (mohitaḥ): deluded, bewildered

• तस्य अपि (tasya api): even his

• दशनाः (daśanāḥ): teeth

• पेतुः (petuḥ): fell down

• दृष्ट-मात्रस्य (dṛṣṭa-mātrasya): by mere sight/glance

• शंभुना (śaṃbhunā): by Śambhu (Śiva).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu
• Pushan

FAQs

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

It reinforces that ritual power and Vedic status are secondary to Śiva-bhakti: when sacrifice is divorced from reverence to Pati (Śiva), it becomes hollow, and Śiva’s authority prevails instantly—supporting the Linga as the supreme focus of worship.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as effortless sovereignty: by mere dṛṣṭi (glance) Śambhu nullifies opposition. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati’s icchā-śakti alone can dissolve the pasha-like pride that binds the pashu (finite being).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: abandon egoic aggression (symbolized by clenched teeth) and take śaraṇāgati (refuge) in Pati; otherwise, external rites and forceful intent are rendered powerless.