Shloka 171

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

Devanagari script

श्रीपितामह उवाच भगवन्देवदेवेश त्रिपुरान्तक शङ्कर त्वयि भक्तिं परां मे ऽद्य प्रसीद परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

śrīpitāmaha uvāca bhagavandevadeveśa tripurāntaka śaṅkara tvayi bhaktiṃ parāṃ me 'dya prasīda parameśvaram

Translation

The revered Pitāmaha (Brahmā) said: “O Bhagavān, Lord of the gods, Devadeveśa, Tripurāntaka, Śaṅkara—today grant me supreme bhakti, firmly fixed in You. Be gracious, O Parameśvara, the Pati who frees the paśu (bound soul) from pāśa (bondage).”

Word by Word

• śrī-pitāmahaḥ: the revered Pitāmaha (Brahmā)

• uvāca: said

• bhagavan: O Blessed Lord

• deva-deveśa: Lord of the lords of gods

• tripurāntaka: Destroyer of the three cities (Tripura)

• śaṅkara: Beneficent One, Śiva

• tvayi: in You

• bhaktim: devotion

• parām: supreme, highest

• me: for me / my

• adya: today, now

• prasīda: be pleased, show grace

• parameśvaram: O Supreme Lord

Speaker

Brahma (Pitamaha)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames worship as seeking Śiva’s prasāda (grace) for parā-bhakti—devotion that ripens into liberation—rather than merely worldly boons, aligning Linga-pūjā with the goal of mokṣa.

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

Śiva is addressed as Deva-deveśa and Parameśvara—supreme Pati—implying transcendence over all deities and the power of anugraha by which the bound paśu is turned toward the Highest.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is bhakti-yoga oriented to Pāśupata understanding: surrender and single-pointed devotion in Śiva (tvayi bhaktiḥ), sought through prayer for divine grace (prasīda).