Shloka 8

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

छायाशापात् पदं चैकं यमस्य क्लिन्नमुत्तमम् पूयशोणितसम्पूर्णं कृमीणां निचयान्वितम्

Transliteration

chāyāśāpāt padaṃ caikaṃ yamasya klinnamuttamam pūyaśoṇitasampūrṇaṃ kṛmīṇāṃ nicayānvitam

Translation

By the curse of Chāyā, one foot of Yama became grievously ulcered—oozing and foul—filled with pus and blood, and swarming with heaps of worms.

Word by Word

• छायाशापात् (chāyā-śāpāt): due to the curse of Chāyā

• पदम् (padam): foot

• च (ca): and

• एकम् (ekam): one

• यमस्य (yamasya): of Yama (Lord of Dharma/death)

• क्लिन्नम् (klinnam): moist, ulcered, suppurating

• उत्तमम् (uttamam): severe/grievous (lit. intense)

• पूय (pūya): pus

• शोणित (śoṇita): blood

• सम्पूर्णम् (sampūrṇam): filled with

• कृमीणाम् (kṛmīṇām): of worms

• निचय (nicaya): heaps/masses

• अन्वितम् (anvitam): endowed with, infested by

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Chaya

FAQs

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

It frames karma as pasha (bondage): impurity and harm inevitably mature into suffering, motivating the pashu (soul) to seek Shiva (Pati) through dharma and Shiva-puja for purification and release.

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

Indirectly: even Yama, the enforcer of dharma, is subject to karmic consequence and curse, highlighting that only Shiva-tattva stands beyond bondage while embodied agents remain within the law of cause and effect.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is stated; the takeaway aligns with Pashupata discipline—ethical restraint and expiation (prāyaścitta) as preparatory purification supporting Shiva-upāsanā that loosens pasha.