Shloka 17

श्वेतमुनिना कालस्य निग्रहः (मृत्युञ्जय-भक्ति-प्रसादः)

Devanagari script

क्व शर्वस्तव भक्तिश् च क्व पूजा पूजया फलम् क्व चाहं क्व च मे भीतिः श्वेत बद्धो ऽसि वै मया

Transliteration

kva śarvastava bhaktiś ca kva pūjā pūjayā phalam kva cāhaṃ kva ca me bhītiḥ śveta baddho 'si vai mayā

Translation

“Where is your devotion to Śarva, and where is the worship—and the ‘fruit’ that comes from worship? Where am I, and where is fear of me? O Śveta, you are indeed bound by me.”

Word by Word

• kva: where/what place for

• śarvaḥ: Śarva (Shiva, the Auspicious Destroyer)

• tava: your

• bhaktiḥ: devotion

• ca: and

• kva: where/what place for

• pūjā: ritual worship

• pūjayā: by worship/through worship

• phalam: fruit/result

• kva: where/what place for

• ca: and

• aham: I

• kva: where/what place for

• ca: and

• me: for me/my

• bhītiḥ: fear

• śveta: O Śveta (proper name)

• baddhaḥ: bound/tied

• asi: you are

• vai: indeed

• mayā: by me

Speaker

Shiva (as Pati, the Lord who binds and liberates)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Śarva
• Śveta

FAQs

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

It relativizes external puja and its karmic “fruit,” pointing to bhakti to Śarva as the decisive principle; Linga-worship becomes transformative when rooted in surrender to Pati rather than merit-seeking.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati—beyond fear and beyond transactional ritual outcomes—who has sovereign power to bind (pāśa) and thereby also to release the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata orientation: shift from fruit-motivated rites to inner devotion and surrender, recognizing Shiva as the lord of bondage and liberation.