Shloka 48

ईशानकल्पवृत्तान्तः तथा लैङ्गपुराणस्य संक्षेप-सूची

Devanagari script

एरकालाभतो ऽन्योन्यं विवादे वृष्णिविग्रहः लीलया चैव कृष्णेन स्वकुलस्य च संहृतिः

Transliteration

erakālābhato 'nyonyaṃ vivāde vṛṣṇivigrahaḥ līlayā caiva kṛṣṇena svakulasya ca saṃhṛtiḥ

Translation

When the destined time arrived, the Vṛṣṇis turned upon one another in mutual strife; and by Kṛṣṇa’s own divine līlā his very clan was gathered back into dissolution—showing that all embodied beings (paśu) move under the bond of Time (pāśa), while the Lord remains sovereign as Pati.

Word by Word

• erā-kāla-ābhataḥ: when the time of the Eraka (curse/portent) arrived

• anyonyam: mutually, one against another

• vivāde: in dispute, in quarrel

• vṛṣṇi-vigrahaḥ: the conflict/strife of the Vrishnis

• līlayā: by divine play, sportively

• ca eva: and indeed

• kṛṣṇena: by Krishna

• sva-kulasya: of his own clan

• ca: and

• saṃhṛtiḥ: withdrawal, destruction, reabsorption

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Vrishni (Yadava clan)
• Kala (Time)

FAQs

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

It frames dissolution (saṃhṛti) as the Lord’s governance through Time (Kāla). In Linga worship, the devotee contemplates Mahādeva as Mahākāla—beyond the rise and fall of lineages—seeking release from pāśa (bondage).

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

Though Krishna is named, the theological point aligns with Shiva-tattva: the Supreme Pati remains untouched while the world of paśus is moved by Kāla and karma. Saṃhṛti is not mere tragedy but a regulated cosmic withdrawal under the Lord’s sovereignty.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is Kāla-bhāvanā in Pāśupata discipline—meditating on impermanence and Time’s power—supporting vairāgya and steadiness in Linga-pūjā as one seeks freedom from conflict-driven karmic cycles.