Shloka 18

Adhyaya 23: श्वेत-लोहित-पीत-कृष्ण-विश्व-कल्पेषु रुद्रस्वरूप-गायत्री-तत्त्ववर्णनम्

Devanagari script

रुद्रलोकं गमिष्यन्ति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् यदाहं पुनरेवासं कृष्णवर्णो भयानकः

Transliteration

rudralokaṃ gamiṣyanti punarāvṛttidurlabham yadāhaṃ punarevāsaṃ kṛṣṇavarṇo bhayānakaḥ

Translation

അവർ രുദ്രലോകം പ്രാപിക്കും—അവിടെ നിന്ന് പുനരാഗമനം ദുർലഭം; ഞാൻ വീണ്ടും പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുമ്പോൾ കൃഷ്ണവർണ്ണനായി ബന്ധിതജീവർക്കു ഭയങ്കരനാകും।

Word by Word

• रुद्रलोकम्: Rudra’s realm (Rudraloka)

• गमिष्यन्ति: they will go/attain

• पुनरावृत्ति-दुर्लभम्: from which return (rebirth) is difficult/rare

• यदा: when

• अहम्: I

• पुनः एव: again indeed

• आसम्: I become/I manifest

• कृष्ण-वर्णः: dark-complexioned/dark-hued

• भयानकः: fearsome, awe-producing

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Rudra’s promise/statement within the chapter’s discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

The verse frames Rudraloka as the fruit of Shiva-oriented devotion: when the Pashu turns to Pati (Rudra) through Linga-centered worship and discipline, the soul attains a realm from which ordinary return to samsaric rebirth becomes rare.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as sovereign manifestation: Rudra can appear in a fearsome, dark-hued form that inspires awe and dissolves ignorance, acting as Pati who governs destiny and grants transcendental ascent beyond repeated return.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is Pashupata-oriented reliance on Rudra’s grace—devotion, vrata, and inner discipline directed to Shiva/Linga—culminating in ascent to Rudraloka and loosening of pasha (bondage).