Shloka 43

आचार्य-धर्मलक्षण-श्रद्धाभक्तिप्राधान्यं तथा लिङ्गे ध्यान-पूजाविधानसंकेतः

Adhyaya 10

Devanagari script

स्थानार्थं कथितं मात्रा विस्मृतेह विलासिनि पुरा पितामहेनापि पृष्टः प्रश्नवतां वरे

Transliteration

sthānārthaṃ kathitaṃ mātrā vismṛteha vilāsini purā pitāmahenāpi pṛṣṭaḥ praśnavatāṃ vare

Translation

“ഹേ വിലാസിനീ! ‘സ്ഥാന’ത്തിന്റെ അർത്ഥം മാതാവ് മുമ്പ് പറഞ്ഞത് നീ ഇവിടെ മറന്നിരിക്കുന്നു; അതുകൊണ്ട് ഞാൻ വീണ്ടും പറയുന്നു— ഈ ചോദ്യം പൂർവ്വം പിതാമഹൻ ബ്രഹ്മാവും, ചോദിക്കുന്നവരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായി, എന്നോടു ചോദിച്ചിരുന്നു।”

Word by Word

• स्थानार्थम् (sthānārtham): for the purpose/meaning of the sacred place (sthāna)

• कथितम् (kathitam): has been explained/shall be stated

• मात्रा (mātrā): by the Mother / to the Mother (addressing the Divine Mother)

• विस्मृता (vismṛtā): forgotten

• इह (iha): here/in this context

• विलासिनि (vilāsini): O playful/graceful lady (address)

• पुरा (purā): formerly/long ago

• पितामहेन (pitāmahena): by Pitāmaha, Brahmā

• अपि (api): even/also

• पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ): asked/inquired

• प्रश्नवताम् (praśnavatām): of those who ask questions

• वरे (vare): O best/excellent one

Speaker

Suta (narrating an embedded dialogue where Shiva/teacher addresses the Divine Mother)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It frames “sthāna” (the sacred abode/seat of the Liṅga) as a doctrinal point worth repeating—an essential key for correct Liṅga-pūjā and kṣetra-understanding, not merely geography.

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

By linking the teaching to Brahmā’s earlier inquiry, it implies Shiva-tattva as the supreme subject even for the creator-god—Pati, whose presence makes a place truly a “sthāna.”

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The stress is on smṛti (remembrance) and right understanding of the sacred seat; in Pāśupata terms, recollection of Pati and His abode loosens pasha (bondage) upon the paśu (soul).