Shloka 15

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

मन्त्रा घण्टाः स्मृतास्तेषां वर्णाः पादास्तथाश्रमाः अवच्छेदो ह्यनन्तस्तु सहस्रफणभूषितः

Transliteration

mantrā ghaṇṭāḥ smṛtāsteṣāṃ varṇāḥ pādāstathāśramāḥ avacchedo hyanantastu sahasraphaṇabhūṣitaḥ

Translation

Their mantras are remembered as bell-tones; their syllables are the four quarters (pādas), and their supports are the varṇas and the āśramas. Yet their true limit is the Infinite—Ananta—adorned with a thousand hoods, revealing the boundlessness of the Lord Pati (Śiva) beyond all measured divisions.

Word by Word

• मन्त्राः (mantrāḥ): sacred formulas

• घण्टाः (ghaṇṭāḥ): bells/resonant chimes

• स्मृताः (smṛtāḥ): are remembered/considered

• तेषाम् (teṣām): of those/thereof

• वर्णाः (varṇāḥ): classes/syllabic categories (also social orders)

• पादाः (pādāḥ): quarters/sections/feet

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• आश्रमाः (āśramāḥ): stages of life/spiritual disciplines

• अवच्छेदः (avacchedaḥ): limit/delimitation

• हि (hi): indeed

• अनन्तः (anantaḥ): the Infinite (Ananta)

• तु (tu): but/however

• सहस्रफणभूषितः (sahasraphaṇabhūṣitaḥ): adorned with a thousand hoods (serpent-hoods).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya; internal doctrinal description)

Characters & Entities

• Ananta

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-puja as fundamentally mantra-centered: ritual forms (varṇa, āśrama, pāda divisions) support practice, but the worship ultimately points to the limitless Pati beyond all boundaries.

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

Shiva-tattva is indicated as ananta—without delimitation (avaccheda). Even when approached through structured mantra and dharma frameworks, the Lord remains immeasurable and transcendent.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa and nāda-oriented contemplation: the verse suggests mantra as resonant “bell-sound,” guiding the pashu (soul) from structured practice toward the realization of the limitless Pati.