Shloka 66

युगधर्मवर्णनम् — चतुर्युग, गुण, धर्मपाद, तथा वार्तोत्पत्ति

Devanagari script

शातातपो वसिष्ठश् च एवमाद्यैः सहस्रशः अवृष्टिर्मरणं चैव तथा व्याध्याद्युपद्रवाः

Transliteration

śātātapo vasiṣṭhaś ca evamādyaiḥ sahasraśaḥ avṛṣṭirmaraṇaṃ caiva tathā vyādhyādyupadravāḥ

Translation

Along with Śātātapa and Vasiṣṭha—and thousands of other sages of that kind—there arose calamities such as drought, death, and afflictions beginning with disease. When the Pāśu (bound soul) turns away from dharma and from devotion to Pati (Śiva), the Pāśas (bonds) manifest outwardly as such collective disturbances.

Word by Word

• शातातपः: Śātātapa (a sage/authority on dharma)

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha (the great Vedic sage)

• च: and

• एवम्-आद्यैः: with others beginning in this manner / with such foremost ones

• सहस्रशः: by the thousands

• अवृष्टिः: lack of rain, drought

• मरणम्: death

• च एव: and indeed

• तथा: likewise

• व्याधि-आदि: disease and the like

• उपद्रवाः: troubles, calamities, afflictions

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Śātātapa
• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

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

The verse frames drought, death, and disease as outward symptoms of inner disorder—when dharma and Śiva-oriented worship decline—implying that restoring Śiva-pūjā and right conduct helps re-establish harmony in the world.

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

Indirectly: Śiva as Pati is the stabilizing Lord of order; when beings (paśus) ignore that Lordship, bondage (pāśa) expresses as suffering. The verse points to Śiva-tattva as the ground of auspiciousness and restoration.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No single rite is named, but the takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: returning to dharma, Śiva-bhakti, and regular liṅga-pūjā as remedies for the bonds that ripen into disease and collective distress.