Shloka 29

देवदारुवनौकसां प्रति ब्रह्मोपदेशः—लिङ्गलक्षण-प्रतिष्ठा-विधिः, शिवमायारूपदर्शनं, स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

उल्मुकव्यग्रहस्तश् च रक्तपिङ्गललोचनः क्वचिच्च हसते रौद्रं क्वचिद्गायति विस्मितः

Transliteration

ulmukavyagrahastaś ca raktapiṅgalalocanaḥ kvacicca hasate raudraṃ kvacidgāyati vismitaḥ

Translation

ചഞ്ചലമായ കൈയിൽ ജ്വലിക്കുന്ന ഉല്മുകം ധരിച്ചു, രക്തപിംഗള നേത്രങ്ങളോടെ അദ്ദേഹം ചിലപ്പോൾ രുദ്രസദൃശമായി രൗദ്രഹാസ്യം ചെയ്ത് ഗർജ്ജിക്കുന്നു; ചിലപ്പോൾ അത്ഭുതവിസ്മയത്തോടെ പാടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ulmuka: firebrand, burning brand

• vyagra-hastaḥ: having a restless/agitated hand (or hurried grasp)

• ca: and

• rakta-piṅgala-locanaḥ: one whose eyes are red and tawny

• kvacit: sometimes

• ca: and

• hasate: laughs

• raudram: fiercely, in a terrible Rudra-like manner

• kvacit: sometimes

• gāyati: sings

• vismitaḥ: astonished, wondrous/strange in demeanor

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Rudra’s awe-inspiring, paradoxical presence—fierce yet mysteriously celebratory—reminding the worshipper that the Linga signifies Pati (the Lord) who transcends ordinary emotional dualities and purifies the pashu (soul) from pasha (bondage).

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as simultaneously raudra (terrible, world-transforming) and vismita (wondrous, beyond expectation). This points to the Lord’s sovereignty: he is not conditioned by moods like embodied beings, but manifests forms to subdue ignorance and reveal grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports a Pashupata Yoga reading: the sādhaka learns to remain steady while witnessing extremes—fearsome and delightful manifestations—cultivating detachment and devotion to Pati as the inner controller, rather than reacting from pasha-bound impulses.