Shloka 81

Adhyaya 40: Kali-yuga Lakshana, Yuga-sandhyamsha, and the Re-emergence of Dharma

Devanagari script

मन्वन्तराधिकारेषु तिष्ठन्ति मुनयस्तु वै यथा दावप्रदग्धेषु तृणेष्विह ततः क्षितौ

Transliteration

manvantarādhikāreṣu tiṣṭhanti munayastu vai yathā dāvapradagdheṣu tṛṇeṣviha tataḥ kṣitau

Translation

മന്വന്തരങ്ങളുടെ അധികാരപരിധികളിൽ മുനിമാർ നിശ്ചയമായും നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു; കാട്ടുതീയിൽ കരിഞ്ഞ പുല്ലിലും ഭൂമിയിൽ കുറെ ശേഷിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ, അവർ തപസ്സിലും പതി (ശിവ)‑ഭക്തിയിലും സ്ഥാപിതരായി കാലപരിവർത്തനങ്ങളിലും നിലനിൽക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• manvantara-adhikāreṣu: in the authorities/jurisdictions of the Manvantaras

• tiṣṭhanti: they stand/abide

• munayaḥ: the sages

• tu vai: indeed, certainly

• yathā: just as

• dāva-pradagdheṣu: when burned by a forest-fire

• tṛṇeṣu: in/among the grasses

• iha: here (in this world)

• tataḥ: thereafter/then

• kṣitau: on the earth

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Sages (Munis)
• Manu (via Manvantara concept)
• Shiva (Pati, implied by Shaiva framing)

FAQs

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

It frames the Rishis as time-transcending custodians of dharma who preserve the Shaiva current across Manvantaras—supporting the continuity of Linga-upasana and its rites even after great disruptions.

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

By implication, it points to Pati-tattva as the stable ground of endurance: while cosmic cycles burn through forms, those anchored in tapas and devotion to the Lord remain, reflecting Shiva’s unwavering sovereignty beyond temporal change.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights steadfast tapas (austerity) and yogic endurance—qualities central to Pashupata discipline—by which the Pashu (individual soul) remains resilient amid the burning transformations of time.