Shloka 24

ययातिना पूरौ राज्याभिषेकः, दिक्प्रदानं, तृष्णा-वैराग्योपदेशः, वनप्रवेशः च

Devanagari script

तृष्णाक्षयसुखस्यैतत् कलां नार्हति षोडशीम् एवमुक्त्वा स राजर्षिः सदारः प्राविशद्वनम्

Transliteration

tṛṣṇākṣayasukhasyaitat kalāṃ nārhati ṣoḍaśīm evamuktvā sa rājarṣiḥ sadāraḥ prāviśadvanam

Translation

“This worldly pleasure does not deserve even a sixteenth part of the bliss that arises from the destruction of craving.” Having spoken thus, that royal sage, together with his wife, entered the forest.

Word by Word

• तृष्णा: craving/desire

• क्षय: destruction/cessation

• सुखस्य: of the bliss

• एतत्: this (i.e., worldly enjoyment)

• कलाम्: a fraction/part

• न अर्हति: is not worthy of/does not equal

• षोडशीम्: the sixteenth part (one-sixteenth)

• एवम्: thus

• उक्त्वा: having said

• स: he

• राजर्षिः: royal sage

• स-दारः: with (his) wife

• प्राविशत्: entered

• वनम्: the forest

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode of a royal sage’s renunciation)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It asserts that true sukha is not sensory but born from tṛṣṇākṣaya; Linga worship is meant to turn the pashu inward toward Pati (Shiva) and loosen pasha (bondage of craving).

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

By contrasting fleeting pleasure with the bliss of desire-cessation, it points to Shiva-tattva as ānanda that is independent of objects—attained as bondage (pāśa) falls away and the soul abides in the Lord.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vairāgya leading to forest-dwelling symbolizes a Pāśupata-aligned discipline: reducing cravings, practicing restraint, and pursuing Shiva-centered contemplation rather than sense-driven life.