Shloka 21

जम्बूद्वीपस्य नववर्षविभागः रुद्रस्य अष्टक्षेत्रसन्निधिः नाभि-ऋषभ-भरतकथा

Devanagari script

सो ऽभिषिच्याथ ऋषभो भरतं पुत्रवत्सलः ज्ञानवैराग्यमाश्रित्य जित्वेन्द्रियमहोरगान्

Transliteration

so 'bhiṣicyātha ṛṣabho bharataṃ putravatsalaḥ jñānavairāgyamāśritya jitvendriyamahoragān

Translation

Then Ṛṣabha, tender with love for his son, consecrated Bharata as ruler. Taking refuge in true knowledge and dispassion, he conquered the great serpents of the senses, loosened the pāśa that binds the paśu (the individual soul), and turned to Pati—Śiva—as the sole refuge.

Word by Word

• सः (saḥ): he

• अभिषिच्य (abhiṣicya): having consecrated/anointed

• अथ (atha): then

• ऋषभः (ṛṣabhaḥ): Ṛṣabha

• भरतम् (bharatam): Bharata

• पुत्रवत्सलः (putravatsalaḥ): affectionate to his son

• ज्ञानवैराग्यम् (jñāna-vairāgyam): knowledge and dispassion

• आश्रित्य (āśritya): having taken refuge in/depending upon

• जित्वा (jitvā): having conquered

• इन्द्रियमहोरगान् (indriya-mahoragān): the mighty serpents of the senses (powerful sense-impulses).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rishabha
• Bharata

FAQs

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

It frames external authority (consecrating Bharata) as secondary to inner worship: conquering the senses through jñāna and vairāgya, which is the prerequisite for steady devotion to Śiva as Pati.

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

By implying that liberation comes from turning away from sense-bondage (pāśa) toward the supreme Lord (Pati), it aligns with Shiva-tattva as the transcendent refuge who frees the pashu when bondage is cut by knowledge and dispassion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The Yogic discipline of indriya-jaya (sense-conquest) supported by jñāna-vairāgya—core to Pāśupata-oriented renunciation—rather than a specific external rite.