Shloka 34

शिवार्चनविधिः — देवतानां पाशुपतव्रतप्राप्तिः तथा पशुपाशविमोक्षणम् (अध्याय ८०)

Devanagari script

रतोत्सवरतैश्चैव ललितैश् च पदे पदे ग्रामरागानुरक्तैश् च पद्मरागसमप्रभैः

Transliteration

ratotsavarataiścaiva lalitaiś ca pade pade grāmarāgānuraktaiś ca padmarāgasamaprabhaiḥ

Translation

At every step were graceful devotees, ever engaged in joyous festivals and sacred observances, attached to sweet village melodies, and radiant with a lustre like that of the ruby, padmarāga.

Word by Word

• rata: devoted/absorbed

• utsava: festival/celebration

• rataiḥ: by those engaged (instrumental plural)

• ca eva: and indeed

• lalitaiḥ: graceful/beautiful/refined

• ca: and

• pade pade: at every step/at each place

• grāma-rāga: village tunes/popular melodies

• anuraktaiḥ: attached/delighting in

• ca: and

• padmarāga: ruby (gem)

• sama-prabhaiḥ: with equal/similar radiance

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-oriented devotion as a lived, communal practice—expressed through utsava (festival), vrata (observance), and aesthetic refinement—showing that Shiva-bhakti is sustained by disciplined joy, not mere austerity.

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

By portraying devotees shining like rubies while immersed in sacred celebration, the verse implies Shiva as Pati who illumines the pashu (soul); proximity to Shiva’s worship refines and brightens consciousness, loosening pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vrata and utsava are highlighted—disciplined observances joined with devotional celebration (including sacred song), functioning as preparatory Shaiva sadhana that steadies the mind for deeper Pashupata-oriented worship.