Shloka 32

अन्धक-हिरण्याक्ष-प्रसङ्गः, वराहावतारः, दंष्ट्राभूषणं च

Devanagari script

कथं विमुक्तिर्विप्राणां तस्माद्दंष्ट्री महेश्वरः

Transliteration

kathaṃ vimuktirviprāṇāṃ tasmāddaṃṣṭrī maheśvaraḥ

Translation

How, indeed, does liberation (vimukti) come to the brahmin seers from Him—Maheshvara, Mahādeva, the Great Lord—who manifests as the fanged One (protector-destroyer), removing the pāśa, the bonds that bind the paśu, the individual soul?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how

• विमुक्तिः: liberation, release

• विप्राणाम्: of the vipras (brahmins/seers)

• तस्मात्: from Him/therefore from that (Supreme)

• दंष्ट्री: the fanged one, tusked/fanged form (symbol of protective power that destroys obstacles)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara, the Great Lord (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal question within the discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames liberation (vimukti) as arising from Maheśvara alone—implying that Linga-pūjā is effective when it is oriented to Śiva as Pati, the remover of pāśa (bondage) from the paśu (individual soul).

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

Śiva is indicated as Maheśvara, the supreme Lord whose power can both protect and destroy obstacles—suggested by “daṃṣṭrī”—and who grants release beyond mere ritual merit through divine grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to the goal of Pāśupata-oriented discipline: seeking vimukti through devotion, worship, and inner surrender to Śiva as Pati, rather than relying only on external acts.