Shloka 25
Adhyāya 6: Pañca-mahābhūta–guṇa-nirdeśa and Sudarśana-dvīpa
Five Elements, Sensory Qualities, and a Cosmographic Island
तत्र साक्षात् पशुपतिर्दिव्यैर्भूती: समावृत: । उमासहायो भगवान् रमते भूतभावन:,वहाँ दिव्य भूतोंसे घिरे हुए साक्षात् भूतभावन भगवान् पशुपति पैरोंतक लटकनेवाली कनेरके फूलोंकी दिव्य माला धारण किये भगवती उमाके साथ विहार करते हैं। वे अपने तीनों नेत्रोंद्वारा ऐसा प्रकाश फैलाते हैं, मानो तीन सूर्य उदित हुए हों
tatra sākṣāt paśupatir divyair bhūtīḥ samāvṛtaḥ | umāsahāyo bhagavān ramate bhūtabhāvanaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “There, the Lord Paśupati himself—Bhūtabhāvana, the source and sustainer of all beings—abides, surrounded by divine manifestations. Accompanied by Goddess Umā, the Blessed One delights in his divine sport, radiating an awe-inspiring presence that signals protection, sovereignty, and sanctifying power beyond the violence of war.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes Śiva as Bhūtabhāvana—one who generates and sustains all beings—surrounded by divine powers and accompanied by Umā. In the Mahābhārata’s war setting, this vision underscores that ultimate authority and auspicious order transcend human conflict, inviting reverence and ethical humility before the divine.
Sañjaya reports a divine scene: Śiva (Paśupati) is visibly present, encircled by celestial manifestations, and joyfully sporting with Umā. The description functions as a theophanic tableau, highlighting the presence of a supreme deity amid the epic’s unfolding events.