Shloka 48

Adhyaya 23: श्वेत-लोहित-पीत-कृष्ण-विश्व-कल्पेषु रुद्रस्वरूप-गायत्री-तत्त्ववर्णनम्

Devanagari script

मत्समीपमुपेष्यन्ति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् इत्येवमुक्तो भगवान् ब्रह्मा रुद्रेण वै द्विजाः

Transliteration

matsamīpamupeṣyanti punarāvṛttidurlabham ityevamukto bhagavān brahmā rudreṇa vai dvijāḥ

Translation

«Se acercarán a Mí—alcanzando un estado en el que el retorno (al nacimiento repetido) es sumamente difícil». Así, oh dos veces nacidos, Rudra habló de este modo al Bienaventurado Brahmā.

Word by Word

• मत्समीपम्: near to Me (Rudra)

• उपेष्यन्ति: they will approach/attain

• पुनरावृत्ति: return (to saṁsāra, repeated birth)

• दुर्लभम्: hard to obtain/difficult

• इति: thus

• एवम्: in this manner

• उक्तः: spoken to/addressed

• भगवान्: the venerable/lordly

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā

• रुद्रेण: by Rudra (Śiva)

• वै: indeed

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (Brāhmaṇas, etc.)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating; reporting Rudra’s statement to Brahma)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-centered devotion and Rudra-upāsanā as a direct means to Rudra-sāmīpya (nearness to Pati), where the Pashu’s bondage (pāśa) loosens and re-entry into saṁsāra becomes rare.

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

Shiva appears as Rudra, the Pati who grants sānnidhya by grace; liberation is not merely self-effort but culminates in being “near” Him—signifying dependence of the Pashu upon the Lord’s anugraha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to Rudra-upāsanā aligned with Pāśupata discipline—devotion, inner turning, and steadfast practice that leads to Shiva-sāmīpya and minimizes punarāvṛtti.