Shloka 63

स्वेच्छाविग्रहसंभव-प्रतिष्ठाफलवर्णनम् (विविधशिवमूर्तिप्रतिष्ठा, लोक-फल, शिवसायुज्य)

Devanagari script

कृत्वा भक्त्या प्रतिष्ठाप्य शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात् क्षेत्रसंरक्षकं देवं तथा पाशुपतं प्रभुम्

Transliteration

kṛtvā bhaktyā pratiṣṭhāpya śivasāyujyamāpnuyāt kṣetrasaṃrakṣakaṃ devaṃ tathā pāśupataṃ prabhum

Translation

Having performed the rite and installed Him with devotion, one attains sāyujya—union with Śiva—by establishing the God who guards the kṣetra (sacred field), the supreme Lord as Pāśupata, the Pati of all paśus.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done, having performed

• भक्त्या (bhaktyā): with devotion

• प्रतिष्ठाप्य (pratiṣṭhāpya): having installed, having consecrated

• शिवसायुज्यम् (śiva-sāyujyam): union/identity with Śiva, intimate liberation

• आप्नुयात् (āpnuyāt): one attains

• क्षेत्रसंरक्षकं (kṣetra-saṃrakṣakam): protector/guardian of the sacred place/field

• देवं (devam): the Deva, the divine Lord

• तथा (tathā): and also/likewise

• पाशुपतं (pāśupatam): Pāśupata, Lord of paśus (bound souls)

• प्रभुम् (prabhum): the sovereign Lord

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya; contextual attribution)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Pāśupata)
• Kṣetra-devatā (guardian aspect of Shiva)

FAQs

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

It links bhakti-filled pratiṣṭhā (consecration/installation) of Śiva—especially as the guardian of a sacred kṣetra—with the highest fruit: Śiva-sāyujya (liberative union with the Lord).

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

Śiva is presented as Pāśupata—the Pati (Lord) of all paśus (souls)—who removes pasha (bondage) and grants sāyujya, while also functioning immanently as the kṣetra’s divine protector.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pratiṣṭhā of Śiva/Liṅga with bhakti is highlighted; the epithet “Pāśupata” points to the Pāśupata path where devotion, consecration, and Lord-centered discipline culminate in liberation.