Shloka 23

क्षुपस्य विष्णुदर्शनं, वैष्णवस्तोत्रं, दधीचविवादः, स्थानेश्वरतीर्थमाहात्म्यं

Devanagari script

अवध्यः सर्वदा सर्वैः शङ्करार्चनतत्परः सावज्ञं वामपादेन स मां मूर्ध्नि सदस्यथ

Transliteration

avadhyaḥ sarvadā sarvaiḥ śaṅkarārcanatatparaḥ sāvajñaṃ vāmapādena sa māṃ mūrdhni sadasyatha

Translation

അവൻ എപ്പോഴും എല്ലാവരാലും അവധ്യൻ; ശങ്കരാരാധനയിൽ തത്പരൻ. എങ്കിലും അവഹേളനത്തോടെ ഇടത് പാദം കൊണ്ട് എന്റെ ശിരസ്സിൽ അമർത്തി।

Word by Word

• avadhyaḥ: not to be slain / inviolable

• sarvadā: always

• sarvaiḥ: by all (beings)

• śaṅkara-arcana-tat-paraḥ: wholly intent on Śaṅkara’s worship

• sāvajñam: disrespectfully, contemptuously

• vāma-pādena: with the left foot

• saḥ: he

• mām: me

• mūrdhni: on the head

• sadasyatha: pressed down / set (upon)

Speaker

Suta (narrating an embedded episode about the power of Shiva-devotees)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)

FAQs

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

It asserts that one devoted to Śaṅkara’s arcana (including linga-pūjā) becomes “avadhya”—socially and spiritually protected—highlighting the sanctity and potency of Shiva-worship in the Linga Purana.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as the supreme refuge (Pati) whose grace makes the pious devotee inviolable; harming or insulting such devotion is portrayed as a grave transgression against the Lord’s dharma.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śaṅkara-arcana—regular worship of Shiva (often through the linga)—is emphasized as a Pāśupata-aligned discipline where devotion and reverence loosen pāśa (bondage) and attract Pati’s protection.