Shloka 41

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

निगृह्य मनसा सर्वं शुक्लं ध्यानम् अनुस्मरेत् घ्राणे च रसने नित्यं चक्षुषी स्पर्शने तथा

Transliteration

nigṛhya manasā sarvaṃ śuklaṃ dhyānam anusmaret ghrāṇe ca rasane nityaṃ cakṣuṣī sparśane tathā

Translation

Having restrained everything by the mind, one should continually recollect the pure (śukla) meditation—maintaining constant mastery over the nose (smell), the tongue (taste), the two eyes (sight), and likewise over touch. Thus, through disciplined dhyāna oriented to Śiva, the Pati, the paśu begins to loosen the pāśas.

Word by Word

• निगृह्य (nigṛhya): having restrained, controlled

• मनसा (manasā): by the mind

• सर्वं (sarvaṃ): all (the faculties/impulses)

• शुक्लं (śuklaṃ): pure, luminous, sattvic

• ध्यानम् (dhyānam): meditation, contemplative absorption

• अनुस्मरेत् (anusmaret): should recollect repeatedly, keep in remembrance

• घ्राणे (ghrāṇe): in/with regard to the nose (smell)

• च (ca): and

• रसने (rasane): in/with regard to the tongue (taste)

• नित्यं (nityaṃ): always, constantly

• चक्षुषी (cakṣuṣī): the two eyes

• स्पर्शने (sparśane): in/with regard to touch

• तथा (tathā): likewise, in the same way

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, conveying Śaiva yogic discipline)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shifts worship from merely external ritual to inner Linga-upāsanā: controlling the senses and sustaining śukla-dhyāna so the mind becomes a fit altar for Śiva (Pati).

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

Śiva is approached as the pure (śukla) object of constant remembrance—Pati, the liberating Lord—known through disciplined inward contemplation rather than sense-driven experience.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) as a core limb of Pāśupata-oriented dhyāna: mastery over smell, taste, sight, and touch to weaken pāśa and stabilize meditation.