Shloka 28

Devanagari script

अथ शृणु भगवन् स्तवच्छलेन कथितमजेन्द्रमुखैः सुरासुरेशैः /* मखमदनयमाग्निदक्षयज्ञक्षपणविचित्रविचेष्टितं क्षमस्व

Transliteration

atha śṛṇu bhagavan stavacchalena kathitamajendramukhaiḥ surāsureśaiḥ /* makhamadanayamāgnidakṣayajñakṣapaṇavicitraviceṣṭitaṃ kṣamasva

Translation

À présent, ô Seigneur Bienheureux, écoute ce qui a été dit—sous le voile de la louange—par Brahmā et par les maîtres des devas et des asuras. Pardonne cette merveilleuse manifestation de Tes actes : la soumission de Makha, l’abaissement de Madana, l’arrêt de Yama et d’Agni, et l’extraordinaire destruction du sacrifice de Dakṣa.

Word by Word

• अथ: now

• शृणु: listen

• भगवन्: O Lord

• स्तवच्छलेन: under the pretext/guise of praise

• कथितम्: spoken, narrated

• अजेन्द्रमुखैः: by Brahmā and foremost ones (led by Aja/Brahmā)

• सुरासुरेशैः: by the lords of gods and demons

• मख: Makha (personified sacrifice/ritual)

• मदन: Madana (Kāma, desire)

• यम: Yama (lord of death)

• अग्नि: Agni (fire-god)

• दक्षयज्ञ: Dakṣa’s sacrifice

• क्षपण: destruction, annihilation

• विचित्र: wondrous, extraordinary

• विचेष्टितम्: deeds, divine actions

• क्षमस्व: forgive (please pardon).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the internal supplication/praise addressed to Shiva)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Devas
• Asuras
• Makha
• Madana (Kama)
• Yama
• Agni
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva as the supreme Pati whose grace, not ritual pride, sanctifies worship—implying that Linga-puja must be grounded in humility and surrender rather than mere sacrificial display.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as transcendent and sovereign over cosmic powers (Agni, Yama) and over ritual itself (Makha/Daksha-yajna), revealing that all functions operate by His will and can be restrained by His līlā.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A key Pāśupata orientation is highlighted: kṣamā-prārthanā (seeking forgiveness) and ego-purification—recognizing that attachment to karma-kāṇḍa (ritual merit) can become pāśa unless offered to Shiva with devotion.