Shloka 172

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

शान्तं रणाजिरे विष्णो देवानां दुःखसाधनम् शान्तस्य चास्त्रं शान्तः स्याच् छान्तेनास्त्रेण किं फलम्

Transliteration

śāntaṃ raṇājire viṣṇo devānāṃ duḥkhasādhanam śāntasya cāstraṃ śāntaḥ syāc chāntenāstreṇa kiṃ phalam

Translation

Ô Viṣṇu, lorsque le champ de bataille s’est apaisé, pourquoi user d’une arme qui ne fait qu’engendrer la peine des Devas ? Celui qui est pacifié doit demeurer pacifié ; à quoi sert, en un tel moment, une arme dite « paisible » ?

Word by Word

• शान्तम्: pacified, made calm

• रणाजिरे: on the battle-field

• विष्णो: O Vishnu

• देवानाम्: of the gods (Devas)

• दुःखसाधनम्: a cause/instrument of suffering

• शान्तस्य: of one who is tranquil

• च: and

• अस्त्रम्: missile/weapon (astra)

• शान्तः: peaceful, restrained

• स्यात्: should be

• शान्तेन: by/with a pacified (restrained) [weapon]

• अस्त्रेण: by a weapon

• किम्: what

• फलम्: result, benefit.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal battlefield counsel addressed to Vishnu)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames true worship as śānti and self-restraint: the devotee turns away from causing duḥkha and aligns with the Linga’s meaning—Pati (Shiva) as the still center that pacifies pasha (bondage) such as anger and violence.

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

By implication, Shiva-tattva is the principle of śamana (pacification) that subdues destructive impulses; when consciousness is ‘śānta,’ it abides in its own nature rather than projecting harm—this is the mark of Pati’s grace leading the pashu toward liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The yogic discipline of krodha-nigraha (restraint of anger) and śānti-bhāvanā—key to Pashupata-style inner purification—where mastery is shown by not deploying power (astra) when peace has been established.