Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

हलैश् च फालैर् मुसलैर् भुशुण्डैर् गिरीन्द्रकूटैर् गिरिसन्निभास्ते ययुः पुरस्ताद्धि महेश्वरस्य सुरेश्वरा भूतगणेश्वराश् च

Transliteration

halaiś ca phālair musalair bhuśuṇḍair girīndrakūṭair girisannibhāste yayuḥ purastāddhi maheśvarasya sureśvarā bhūtagaṇeśvarāś ca

Translation

Bearing ploughs and ploughshares, pestles and clubs, and even mountain-peaks—those whose forms were like mountains—the lords of the Devas and the commanders of the hosts of Bhūtas advanced in front of Mahēśvara.

Word by Word

• हलैः (halaiḥ): with ploughs

• च (ca): and

• फालैः (phālaiḥ): with ploughshares/blades

• मुसलैः (musalaiḥ): with pestles

• भुशुण्डैः (bhuśuṇḍaiḥ): with clubs/maces

• गिरीन्द्रकूटैः (girīndrakūṭaiḥ): with mountain-peaks/summits

• गिरिसन्निभाः (girisannibhāḥ): mountain-like in appearance

• ते (te): they

• ययुः (yayuḥ): went/advanced

• पुरस्तात् (purastāt): in front

• हि (hi): indeed

• महेश्वरस्य (maheśvarasya): of Mahēśvara (Pati, Lord Śiva)

• सुरेश्वराः (sureśvarāḥ): lords of the Devas

• भूतगणेश्वराः (bhūtagaṇeśvarāḥ): lords of the Bhūta-hosts

• च (ca): and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara (Shiva)
• Devas (Suras)
• Bhuta-Ganas

FAQs

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

It establishes Maheshvara as Pati—the supreme Lord before whom both Devas and Bhuta-hosts align and proceed—supporting the Shaiva Siddhanta view that all powers and rituals culminate in surrender to Śiva, the inner reality signified by the Linga.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as sovereign and all-commanding: Maheshvara stands as the central Lord whose presence orders even cosmic rulers (sureśvaras) and fierce elemental forces (bhūta-gaṇas), reflecting Śiva as Pati who transcends and governs all categories.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights gaṇa-sevā and śaraṇāgati (devotional submission) as a Pāśupata-aligned attitude: the pashu (soul) advances under the Lord’s leadership, with strength and instruments symbolizing disciplined energies offered into Śiva’s purpose rather than egoic force.