Shloka 54

अध्याय ९६: शरभ-प्रादुर्भावः, नृसिंह-दर्पशमनम्, विष्णोः शिवस्तुतिः, फलश्रुति

Devanagari script

शक्तिमानभितस्त्वं च ह्य् अनलस्त्वं च मोहितः तत्तेजसो ऽपि माहात्म्यं युवां द्रष्टुं न हि क्षमौ

Transliteration

śaktimānabhitastvaṃ ca hy analastvaṃ ca mohitaḥ tattejaso 'pi māhātmyaṃ yuvāṃ draṣṭuṃ na hi kṣamau

Translation

Tu es certes puissant de toutes parts, et tu es Agni (le Feu) lui-même—pourtant tu es dans l’illusion. Même la majesté de ce tejas divin, vous deux ne pouvez la contempler ; vous n’en êtes pas capables.

Word by Word

• śaktimān: mighty, possessed of power

• abhitas: on all sides, in every way

• tvaṃ: you

• ca: and

• hi: indeed

• analaḥ: Fire, Agni

• tvaṃ: you

• ca: and

• mohitaḥ: deluded, bewildered

• tat-tejasaḥ: of that radiance/effulgence (of the Supreme)

• api: even

• māhātmyam: greatness, majesty

• yuvām: you two (dual)

• draṣṭum: to see, to behold

• na: not

• hi: indeed

• kṣamau: capable, competent

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the internal episode of the Devas being humbled by the Linga’s tejas)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It establishes that the Linga’s tejas (Shiva’s transcendent presence) exceeds even the powers of Vedic deities like Agni, guiding devotees to worship the Linga as Pati—beyond sensory and ritual pride.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as immeasurable radiance (tejas) whose māhātmya cannot be grasped by limited beings; without grace and inner purification, even powerful devas remain under moha (delusion).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is Pashupata-oriented: conquer moha through bhakti, jñāna, and disciplined sādhana so the pashu (soul) loosens pasha (bondage) and becomes fit to approach Pati (Shiva) symbolized by the Linga.