Shloka 41

Adhyaya 59 — सूर्याद्यभिषेककथनम्

Surya and Related Abhisheka/ Cosmological Determinations

Devanagari script

ओषधीषु बलं धत्ते स्वधया च पितृष्वपि सूर्यो ऽमरेष्वप्यमृतं त्रयं त्रिषु नियच्छति

Transliteration

oṣadhīṣu balaṃ dhatte svadhayā ca pitṛṣvapi sūryo 'mareṣvapyamṛtaṃ trayaṃ triṣu niyacchati

Translation

太陽は薬草のうちに力を宿し、また「スヴァダー（svadhā）」という供養によって祖霊ピトリたちをも養い、さらに神々の間では不死の甘露アムリタを保つ――かくして三つの領域において三つを統御する。

Word by Word

• ओषधीषु (oṣadhīṣu): in herbs/medicinal plants

• बलं (balaṃ): strength, potency

• धत्ते (dhatte): places, sustains, bestows

• स्वधया (svadhayā): by svadhā, the Pitṛ-offering/formula

• च (ca): and

• पितृषु (pitṛṣu): among the ancestors (Pitṛs)

• अपि (api): also

• सूर्यः (sūryaḥ): the Sun

• अमरेषु (amareṣu): among the immortals, the Devas

• अपि (api): even/also

• अमृतं (amṛtaṃ): nectar of immortality

• त्रयं (trayaṃ): the triad/threefold set

• त्रिषु (triṣu): in the three (spheres/groups)

• नियच्छति (niyacchati): restrains, governs, apportions

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Pitrs
• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic nourishment (herbal potency, Pitṛ-sustenance, and divine vitality) as orderly distribution of śakti; in Linga worship, the devotee honors Shiva as Pati, the ultimate governor behind such regulators (like Surya) and offers worship aligned with ṛta/dharma.

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

Though Surya is named, the Purāṇic Shaiva lens treats such cosmic functions as delegated powers within Shiva’s lordship: Shiva-tattva is the transcendent Pati whose śakti becomes immanent as cosmic regulation—sustaining Pashus (souls) through ordered means while remaining beyond them.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to Pitṛ-yajña through svadhā (ancestor offerings) and to maintaining dharmic alignment with cosmic cycles; as a Shaiva takeaway, perform Shiva-puja with proper daily rites (including honoring Pitṛs) to reduce pasha (bondage) and steady the mind for Pāśupata-oriented discipline.