Shloka 28

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

यस्य श्वेतघनाभासा श्वेतसर्षपसंनिभा श्वेता च मूर्तिर्ह्यसकृत् तस्य मृत्युरुपस्थितः

Transliteration

yasya śvetaghanābhāsā śvetasarṣapasaṃnibhā śvetā ca mūrtirhyasakṛt tasya mṛtyurupasthitaḥ

Translation

淡い雲のように白く輝き、白い芥子粒のように微細な白き姿を幾度も見る者には、死が近づき、眼前に立つ。

Word by Word

• yasya: of whom/for whom

• śveta: white/pale

• ghana-ābhāsā: having the appearance of a cloud

• śveta-sarṣapa-saṃnibhā: resembling a white mustard seed

• śvetā: white

• ca: and

• mūrtiḥ: form/manifestation/vision

• hi: indeed

• asakṛt: repeatedly, again and again

• tasya: for him/of him

• mṛtyuḥ: death

• upasthitaḥ: arrived, present, standing near

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Linga Purana teachings on omens to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Mrityu (Death)

FAQs

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

It frames mortality as a spiritual prompt: when such repeated visions arise, the pashu (individual soul) should turn to Pati—Shiva—through Linga-upasana, seeking refuge beyond fear and time.

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

By highlighting Death’s nearness as an unavoidable reality, it implicitly points to Shiva-tattva as that which transcends Mrityu and Kala—Pati who can cut pasha (bondage) and grant liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Not a specific rite, but a yogic takeaway: cultivate vairagya and Shiva-smriti when death-signs appear—intensifying japa, dhyana on the Linga, and Pashupata-oriented surrender to Pati.