Shloka 147

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

योगिनां हृदि संस्थाय सदा नीवारशूकवत् प्रत्याहाराय ते नित्यं प्रत्याहाररताय ते

Transliteration

yogināṃ hṛdi saṃsthāya sadā nīvāraśūkavat pratyāhārāya te nityaṃ pratyāhāraratāya te

Translation

Demeurant dans le cœur des yogins, toujours subtil comme la pointe de l’enveloppe du riz sauvage, Śiva les mène sans cesse au pratyāhāra, le retrait des sens, car ils sont constamment voués à cette intériorisation.

Word by Word

• योगिनाम् (yoginām): of yogins

• हृदि (hṛdi): in the heart

• संस्थाय (saṃsthāya): having become established/abiding

• सदा (sadā): always

• नीवार-शूकवत् (nīvāra-śūkavat): like the fine tip/husk of wild rice (extremely subtle)

• प्रत्याहाराय (pratyāhārāya): for/into pratyāhāra (sense-withdrawal)

• ते (te): they/for them

• नित्यम् (nityaṃ): constantly

• प्रत्याहार-रताय (pratyāhāra-ratāya): devoted/delighting in pratyāhāra

• ते (te): they/indeed

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It internalizes Linga-upāsanā: the true mark (liṅga) is Śiva’s subtle presence in the yogin’s heart, realized through pratyāhāra rather than only external ritual.

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

Śiva-tattva is portrayed as antaryāmin (inner indweller)—extremely subtle and intimate—guiding the paśu (bound soul) away from pasha (sense-bondage) toward Pati (the Lord) through inward withdrawal.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pratyāhāra (withdrawal of the senses) is highlighted as a key limb of Pāśupata-oriented yoga, enabling the mind to turn from external objects toward Śiva’s inner presence.