Shloka 90

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

Devanagari script

अथ विभाति विभोर्विशदं वपुर् भसितभासितमंबिकया तया सितमिवाभ्रमहो सह विद्युता नभसि देवपतेः परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

atha vibhāti vibhorviśadaṃ vapur bhasitabhāsitamaṃbikayā tayā sitamivābhramaho saha vidyutā nabhasi devapateḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

Then the all-pervading Lord’s spotless form blazed forth—made radiant by the sacred ash (bhasma) and by Ambikā’s presence—like a white cloud in the sky flashing with lightning, wondrous to behold, the supreme Lord of the gods.

Word by Word

• अथ: then

• विभाति: shines forth, blazes

• विभोः: of the all-pervading Lord (Śiva)

• विशदम्: pure, clear, stainless

• वपुः: body, form

• भसित-भासितम्: illumined/adorned by bhasma (sacred ash)

• अम्बिकया: by Ambikā (Pārvatī/Śakti)

• तया: by her/with her

• सितम्: white, bright

• इव: like

• अभ्रम्: cloud

• अहो: indeed!, wondrous!

• सह: together with

• विद्युता: lightning

• नभसि: in the sky

• देवपतेः: of the Lord of the gods

• परमेष्ठिनः: of the Supreme, the Highest Lord.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ambika (Parvati/Shakti)

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva’s manifest brilliance as inseparable from Ambikā (Śakti) and marked by bhasma—key symbols in Liṅga-pūjā where ash signifies purification, detachment from pāśa (bondage), and devotion to Pati (the Lord).

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

Śiva is portrayed as Vibhu (all-pervading) and Viśada (stainless purity), whose tejas shines forth; in Shaiva Siddhānta terms, he is Pati—transcendent yet revealing himself through grace, with Śakti as his manifest power.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds bhasma as a Shaiva marker—supporting bhasma-dhāraṇa (applying sacred ash) as a discipline of purity and dispassion aligned with Pāśupata-oriented practice and Śiva-bhakti.