Shloka 18

Devanagari script

स्थित्यर्थेन च युक्तो ऽसि परेण परमेष्ठिना जन्तुचक्रं भगवता रक्षितं मत्स्यरूपिणा

Transliteration

sthityarthena ca yukto 'si pareṇa parameṣṭhinā jantucakraṃ bhagavatā rakṣitaṃ matsyarūpiṇā

Translation

You have been empowered for the world’s sustenance by the supreme Lord, the highest Ordainer; for the entire cycle of living beings was protected by the Blessed One when he assumed the form of the Fish (Matsya).

Word by Word

• स्थित्यर्थेन: for the purpose of preservation/sustenance

• च: and

• युक्तोऽसि: you are endowed/commissioned

• परेण: by the supreme (Pati)

• परमेष्ठिना: by the Highest Lord/Ordainer

• जन्तुचक्रं: the wheel/cycle of creatures (pashu-souls and embodied beings)

• भगवता: by the Blessed Lord

• रक्षितं: protected/guarded

• मत्स्यरूपिणा: by (one) having the form of a fish (Matsya-form).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal praise/instruction regarding divine preservation)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames preservation (stithi) as the Lord’s deliberate function: Linga worship aligns the devotee (pashu) with Pati’s sustaining grace that protects the whole jantu-chakra.

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

Shiva-tattva is indicated as the supreme Ordainer who empowers cosmic functions; even when protection is described through an avatara-form, it is ultimately grounded in the Supreme Lord’s anugraha and sovereignty.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is stithi-bhavana in Pashupata-oriented sadhana: meditating on the Lord as protector of embodied beings, reinforcing surrender (śaraṇāgati) and steadiness in daily Shiva-puja.