Shloka 6

पीतवासा-कल्पः, माहेश्वरी-दर्शनम्, रौद्री-गायत्री, महायोगेन अपुनर्भवः

Devanagari script

चतुष्पदां चतुर्वक्त्रां चतुर्हस्तां चतुःस्तनीम् चतुर्नेत्रां चतुःशृङ्गीं चतुर्दंष्ट्रां चतुर्मुखीम्

Transliteration

catuṣpadāṃ caturvaktrāṃ caturhastāṃ catuḥstanīm caturnetrāṃ catuḥśṛṅgīṃ caturdaṃṣṭrāṃ caturmukhīm

Translation

उसने अद्भुत रूप देखा—चार पगों वाली, चार मुखों वाली, चार भुजाओं और चार स्तनों वाली; चार नेत्रों, चार शृंगों और चार दंष्ट्राओं से युक्त।

Word by Word

• चतुष्पदाम् (catuṣpadām): four-footed

• चतुर्वक्त्राम् (caturvaktrām): four-faced / having four mouths

• चतुर्हस्ताम् (caturhastām): four-armed

• चतुःस्तनीम् (catuḥstanīm): four-breasted

• चतुर्नेत्राम् (caturnetrām): four-eyed

• चतुःशृङ्गीम् (catuḥśṛṅgīm): four-horned

• चतुर्दंष्ट्राम् (caturdaṃṣṭrām): four-tusked / four-fanged

• चतुर्मुखीम् (caturmukhīm): four-faced (reiterated as a marked epithet)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes that the Supreme (Pati) can be approached through manifold, symbol-laden manifestations; Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize the One Lord behind diverse forms and attributes.

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

By listing extraordinary, multi-aspected features, the verse points to Shiva’s śakti-driven sovereignty: He is not confined to a single finite shape, but reveals forms that signify cosmic functions while remaining transcendent.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative upāsanā (dhyāna) approach is implied—meditating on Shiva’s symbolic attributes to loosen pāśa (bondage) and reorient the paśu (soul) toward Pati, aligning with Pāśupata-oriented devotion.