Shloka 28

क्षुपदधीचिसंवादः — शिलादतपः, वरसीमा, मेघवाहनकल्पे त्रिदेवसमागमः

Devanagari script

शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मं धारयन्तं चतुर्भुजम् सर्वाभरणसंयुक्तं शशिमण्डलसन्निभम्

Transliteration

śaṅkhacakragadāpadmaṃ dhārayantaṃ caturbhujam sarvābharaṇasaṃyuktaṃ śaśimaṇḍalasannibham

Translation

Meditate upon the four‑armed Lord, bearing the conch, discus, mace, and lotus—adorned with every ornament, radiant like the circle of the moon. In the Shaiva understanding, this form is a dhyāna‑support: through a luminous, auspicious icon Pati is contemplated, so the paśu (bound soul) may loosen pāśa (bondage) and steady awareness in worship.

Word by Word

• शङ्ख (śaṅkha): conch

• चक्र (cakra): discus

• गदा (gadā): mace

• पद्मम् (padmam): lotus

• धारयन्तम् (dhārayantam): bearing/holding

• चतुर्भुजम् (caturbhujam): four-armed

• सर्वाभरण (sarvābharaṇa): all ornaments

• संयुक्तम् (saṃyuktam): endowed with/combined with

• शशि (śaśi): moon

• मण्डल (maṇḍala): orb/circle

• सन्निभम् (sannibham): resembling, comparable to

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana; presenting a dhyāna-description within the chapter’s instruction)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It supplies a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative form) to stabilize the mind before pūjā; the radiance and auspicious emblems serve as supports so the pashu can turn inward toward the Pati while worshipping the Linga.

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

While the imagery is Vaishnava in emblems, the Shaiva Siddhānta lens treats it as upāsanā-ākāra—an accessible manifestation pointing to the formless Lord beyond attributes, enabling the soul to move from external symbols to inner realization.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Dhyāna (icon-based contemplation) as a preparatory limb of pūjā and a yogic method aligned with Pāśupata discipline—collecting attention, purifying intention, and weakening pasha through sustained remembrance.