Shloka 5

Adhyaya 35 — दधीचि-क्षुप-युद्धम्, भार्गवोपदेशः, मृतसंजीवनी (त्र्यम्बक) मन्त्रः

Devanagari script

अष्टानां लोकपालानां वपुर्धारयते नृपः तस्मादिन्द्रो ह्ययं वह्निर् यमश् च निरृतिस् तथा

Transliteration

aṣṭānāṃ lokapālānāṃ vapurdhārayate nṛpaḥ tasmādindro hyayaṃ vahnir yamaś ca nirṛtis tathā

Translation

Ô roi, le souverain porte en lui les puissances incarnées des huit gardiens des mondes. C’est pourquoi on doit le considérer comme Indra, comme Agni, comme Yama, et de même comme Nirṛti, manifestant dans le gouvernement leurs fonctions souveraines.

Word by Word

• अष्टानाम् (aṣṭānām): of the eight

• लोकपालानाम् (lokapālānām): of the world-guardians/directional deities

• वपुः (vapuḥ): form/body/embodiment

• धारयते (dhārayate): bears, sustains, embodies

• नृपः (nṛpaḥ): the king/ruler

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore

• इन्द्रः (indraḥ): Indra (lordly sovereignty)

• हि (hi): indeed

• अयम् (ayam): this (king)

• वह्निः (vahniḥ): Agni (fire

• यमः (yamaḥ): Yama (justice, restraint)

• च (ca): and

• निरृतिः (nirṛtiḥ): Nirṛti (guardian of the southwest

• तथा (tathā): likewise/so too

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana discourse to the sages, conveying Raja-dharma teaching)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Agni
• Yama
• Nirṛti
• Lokapalas

FAQs

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

It frames righteous kingship as a sacred, cosmic duty: a Shaiva ruler protects beings (pashu) from disorder (a form of pasha) by embodying the lokapala-functions, thereby upholding the dharmic order that supports Shiva-puja and Linga-centered rites.

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

Indirectly, it reflects Shiva-tattva as the supreme Pati whose cosmic governance is mirrored through delegated powers (lokapalas). The king’s authority is legitimate only when aligned with that higher Shaiva order—protection, purification, justice, and controlled dissolution of adharma.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes dharmic discipline rather than a specific rite: restraint (yama), purification/transformation (agni), and sovereign responsibility (indra) are to be internalized—principles that also underpin Pashupata-style self-governance and ethical foundations for Shiva-puja.