Shloka 21

श्वेतमुनिना कालस्य निग्रहः (मृत्युञ्जय-भक्ति-प्रसादः)

Devanagari script

ससर्ज जीवितं क्षणाद् भवं निरीक्ष्य वै भयात् पपात चाशु वै बली मुनेस्तु संनिधौ द्विजाः

Transliteration

sasarja jīvitaṃ kṣaṇād bhavaṃ nirīkṣya vai bhayāt papāta cāśu vai balī munestu saṃnidhau dvijāḥ

Translation

Le puissant, ayant contemplé Bhava (Śiva), relâcha aussitôt le souffle même de sa vie ; et, saisi de crainte, il tomba promptement, ô sages deux-fois-nés, en la présence du muni.

Word by Word

• ससर्ज: released/let go

• जीवितम्: life-breath/life-force

• क्षणात्: in an instant

• भवम्: Bhava (Śiva)

• निरीक्ष्य: having looked upon/after beholding

• वै: indeed

• भयात्: from fear/awe

• पपात: fell down

• च: and

• आशु: quickly

• वै: indeed

• बली: the strong/mighty one

• मुनेः: of the sage

• तु: and/indeed

• संनिधौ: in the presence/nearby

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa sages)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Bhava)
• Muni (sage)
• Dvijas (twice-born sages)

FAQs

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

It highlights that mere direct encounter with Śiva’s (Bhava’s) sanctifying presence makes worldly power collapse; true Linga-worship begins with humility, surrender, and recognition of Pati’s supremacy over the Pashu.

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

Śiva appears as Bhava—Pati whose radiance and authority are so absolute that the limited self (pashu), bound by pasha such as fear and ego, loses its footing and is forced into surrender.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: ego-abandonment (ahaṅkāra-kṣaya) and reverential surrender in the Guru/muni’s presence, preparing the aspirant for Śiva-upāsanā and inner steadiness.