Shloka 24

उमास्वयंवरः / भवोद्वाहः, गणसमागमः, अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम्, तथा विनायक-उत्पत्तिसूचना

Devanagari script

कोटिकोटिसहस्राणां शतैर् विंशतिभिर् वृताः तत्राजग्मुस् तथा देवास् ते सर्वे शङ्करं भवम्

Transliteration

koṭikoṭisahasrāṇāṃ śatair viṃśatibhir vṛtāḥ tatrājagmus tathā devās te sarve śaṅkaraṃ bhavam

Translation

Entourés de troupes par centaines et par vingtaines, innombrables en crores sur crores et en milliers, tous les Devas vinrent alors ensemble en ce lieu et s’approchèrent de Śaṅkara—Bhava, le Seigneur de bon augure (Pati) qui délivre les paśus de leurs liens (pāśas).

Word by Word

• कोटि-कोटि-सहस्राणाम्: of crores upon crores and thousands

• शतैः: by hundreds

• विंशतिभिः: by twenties (groups of twenty)

• वृताः: surrounded/encircled

• तत्र: there

• आजग्मुः: came/arrived

• तथा: then/likewise

• देवाः: the gods (Devas)

• ते सर्वे: all of them

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (the beneficent one)

• भवम्: Bhava (Lord Śiva, the source of becoming)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya, contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Shankara
• Bhava

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva (Śaṅkara/Bhava) as the supreme refuge whom even the Devas approach in vast assemblies—supporting Linga-worship as devotion to Pati, the highest principle beyond worldly power.

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

By naming him Śaṅkara and Bhava, the verse points to Śiva as both the beneficent bestower of grace and the lord of manifestation—yet the one who can transcend manifestation by releasing paśus from pāśas.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and communal upāsanā—approaching Śiva with reverence, which is foundational to Pāśupata orientation even when a specific puja-vidhi is not detailed in this line.