Shloka 11

रक्तकल्पे वामदेवदर्शनं चतुर्कुमारोत्पत्तिः

Devanagari script

रक्तकुङ्कुमलिप्ताङ्गा रक्तभस्मानुलेपनाः ततो वर्षसहस्रान्ते ब्रह्मत्वे ऽध्यवसायिनः

Transliteration

raktakuṅkumaliptāṅgā raktabhasmānulepanāḥ tato varṣasahasrānte brahmatve 'dhyavasāyinaḥ

Translation

അവരുടെ ശരീരം ചുവന്ന കുങ്കുമം പുരട്ടിയതും ചുവന്ന ഭസ്മം അനുലേപനം ചെയ്തതുമായിരുന്നു. ഇങ്ങനെ അവർ ദൃഢനിശ്ചയത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരമായി നിന്നു; ആയിരം വർഷം പൂർത്തിയായപ്പോൾ ബ്രഹ്മത്വത്തിൽ പ്രതിഷ്ഠിതരായി—ശൈവാനുഷ്ഠാനത്തിലൂടെ പരമ പതി-പരായണാവസ്ഥ പ്രാപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• rakta: red

• kuṅkuma: saffron/pigment

• liptāṅgāḥ: having limbs smeared/anointed

• rakta-bhasma: red sacred ash

• anulepanāḥ: those who apply as unguent/smearing

• tataḥ: then/thereafter

• varṣa-sahasra-ante: at the end of a thousand years

• brahmatve: in Brahmahood/the state of Brahman

• adhyavasāyinaḥ: resolute, firmly intent/committed

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights external Shaiva marks (bhasma and ritual anointing) as part of a long, disciplined vrata that supports inner orientation to Pati (Shiva), culminating in a liberative state described as Brahmahood.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as the Supreme goal (Pati) toward which the practitioner becomes unwaveringly intent; the ‘Brahmahood’ attained is read as establishment in the Supreme reality through Shaiva sādhanā rather than mere ritual identity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pashupata-style observance: sustained tapas with bodily anointing using sacred ash (bhasma) and ritual coloring (kuṅkuma), paired with firm resolve over an extended period (a thousand years as an idealized measure of endurance).