Shloka 15

Śiva Grants the Pāśupata Astra (Pāśupata-Śastra Upadeśa) | शिवेन पाशुपतास्त्रदानम्

Devanagari script

संस्तूयमानो गन्धर्वैर्क्षिभिश्न तपोधनै: । शूडूं गिरे: समासाद्य तस्थौ सूर्य इवोदित:,उनके मस्तकपर श्वेत छत्र तना हुआ था, जिससे वे शुभ्र वर्णके मेघखण्डसे आच्छादित चन्द्रमाके समान सुशोभित हो रहे थे। बहुत-से तपस्वी-ऋषि तथा गन्धर्वगण उनकी स्तुति करते थे। वे उस पर्वतके शिखरपर आकर ठहर गये, मानो वहाँ सूर्य प्रकट हो गये हों

Transliteration

saṁstūyamāno gandharvair ṛṣibhiś ca tapodhanaiḥ | śūḍuṁ gireḥ samāsādya tasthau sūrya ivoditaḥ ||

Translation

Praised by the Gandharvas and by ascetic seers rich in austerity, he reached the peak of the mountain Śūḍu and stood there—radiant, as though the sun itself had risen upon that summit. The scene underscores how spiritual merit and righteous presence draw reverence from both celestial beings and disciplined sages.

Word by Word

• {'saṁstūyamānaḥ': 'being praised, being extolled', 'gandharvaiḥ': 'by Gandharvas (celestial musicians)', 'ṛṣibhiḥ': 'by seers, sages', 'ca': 'and', 'tapodhanaiḥ': 'by those whose wealth is tapas

• ascetics rich in austerity', 'gireḥ': 'of the mountain', 'samāsādya': 'having reached, having arrived at', 'śūḍum': 'Śūḍu (name of a mountain/peak)', 'tasthau': 'stood, remained', 'sūryaḥ': 'the sun', 'iva': 'like, as if', 'uditaḥ': 'risen, arisen'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Gandharvas
• Ṛṣis (tapodhanas)
• Śūḍu mountain (giri)
• Sūrya (the Sun)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the cultural-ethical ideal that true radiance and authority arise from merit and disciplined virtue (tapas). When one embodies auspicious qualities, even celestial beings and accomplished sages respond with reverence—suggesting that ethical-spiritual excellence naturally commands respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the (unnamed in this half-verse) figure arrives at the summit of the mountain Śūḍu. As Gandharvas and austere sages praise him, he stands there shining like the newly risen sun, emphasizing his splendor and the solemnity of the moment.