Shloka 18

Adhyaya 52: सोमाधारः, पुण्योदानदी, मेरुप्रदक्षिणा, जम्बूद्वीपनववर्षवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

वर्षाणां तत्र जीवन्ति अश्वत्थाशनजीवनाः हैरण्मया इवात्यर्थम् ईश्वरार्पितमानसाः

Transliteration

varṣāṇāṃ tatra jīvanti aśvatthāśanajīvanāḥ hairaṇmayā ivātyartham īśvarārpitamānasāḥ

Translation

There they live for many years, sustaining themselves by eating the leaves of the sacred aśvattha tree. Shining as if golden, they are wholly absorbed—minds offered to Īśvara (Śiva), the Pati who frees the paśu from the bonds of pāśa.

Word by Word

• वर्षाणाम् (varṣāṇām): for (many) years

• तत्र (tatra): there

• जीवन्ति (jīvanti): they live

• अश्वत्थ-आशन-जीवनाः (aśvatthāśana-jīvanāḥ): living by eating aśvattha (leaves/food)

• हैरण्मयाः (hairaṇmayāḥ): golden, radiant like gold

• इव (iva): as if

• अत्यर्थम् (atyartham): exceedingly, wholly

• ईश्वर-अर्पित-मानसाः (īśvarārpita-mānasāḥ): those whose minds are offered/dedicated to the Lord (Īśvara).

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes inner offering (mānasa-arpana): true devotion to the Lord behind the Linga is shown by a mind surrendered to Īśvara, supported by purity and restraint.

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

Shiva is implied as Īśvara/Pati—the sovereign Lord to whom the devotees dedicate their consciousness, and by whose grace the bound soul (paśu) can become purified and radiant.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A tapas-oriented, Pāśupata-style discipline: austerity, simple sustenance (aśvattha-based), and continuous mental dedication to Īśvara.