Shloka 55

अध्याय ९६: शरभ-प्रादुर्भावः, नृसिंह-दर्पशमनम्, विष्णोः शिवस्तुतिः, फलश्रुति

Devanagari script

स्थूला ये हि प्रपश्यन्ति तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् द्यावापृथिव्या इन्द्राग्नियमस्य वरुणस्य च

Transliteration

sthūlā ye hi prapaśyanti tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam dyāvāpṛthivyā indrāgniyamasya varuṇasya ca

Translation

Those who remain gross-minded indeed perceive that as the supreme station of Viṣṇu—and likewise take as ultimate the spheres and powers of Heaven and Earth, of Indra, Agni, Yama, and Varuṇa. Yet for the seeker of Pati (Śiva), these are but limited offices within saṃsāra, not the final freedom from pāśa.

Word by Word

• स्थूलाः: gross-minded, bound to the tangible

• ये: who

• हि: indeed

• प्रपश्यन्ति: perceive, behold

• तत्: that

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu

• परमम्: highest, supreme

• पदम्: station, abode

• द्यावापृथिव्याः: of Heaven-and-Earth

• इन्द्र: Indra

• अग्नि: Agni (fire-deity)

• यमस्य: of Yama (lord of restraint/death)

• वरुणस्य: of Varuṇa (cosmic order/waters)

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Dyaus
• Prithivi
• Indra
• Agni
• Yama
• Varuna
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It redirects the devotee from seeking merely exalted cosmic abodes (deva-lokas) to seeking Pati—Śiva—through Liṅga-upāsanā, where liberation is defined as release of the paśu from pāśa.

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

By implication it distinguishes the highest reality from limited divine jurisdictions: Śiva-tattva is the transcendent Pati beyond the offices of Indra, Agni, Yama, Varuṇa and even the notion of a ‘supreme station’ grasped by gross perception.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vairāgya (detachment) is emphasized as the yogic prerequisite in Pāśupata practice—turning from gross, reward-based worship toward inner purification and steadfast Liṅga-bhakti aimed at mokṣa.