Shloka 37

सप्तद्वीप-सप्तसमुद्र-वर्णनम् तथा प्रियव्रतवंश-राज्यविभागः

Devanagari script

पञ्चमं धृतिमत् षष्ठं प्रभाकरम् अनुत्तमम् सप्तमं कपिलं नाम कपिलस्य प्रकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

pañcamaṃ dhṛtimat ṣaṣṭhaṃ prabhākaram anuttamam saptamaṃ kapilaṃ nāma kapilasya prakīrtitam

Translation

അഞ്ചാമത് ‘ധൃതിമത്’—സ്ഥിരധൈര്യവാൻ—എന്നു പ്രഖ്യാപിതം. ആറാമത് അനുത്തമ ‘പ്രഭാകര’—പ്രകാശദാതാവ്. ഏഴാമത് ‘കപില’ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ, കപിലന്റെ വംശത്തിൽ പ്രകീർത്തിതം.

Word by Word

• pañcamam: the fifth

• dhṛtimat: endowed with steadfastness/fortitude

• ṣaṣṭham: the sixth

• prabhākaram: the maker of light, illuminer

• anuttamam: unsurpassed, supreme

• saptamam: the seventh

• kapilam: Kapila (name/form)

• nāma: by name

• kapilasya: of Kapila / of Kapila’s lineage

• prakīrtitam: proclaimed, celebrated, enumerated

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s enumeration to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kapila

FAQs

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

It lists specific epithets/forms of Shiva—Dhṛtimat and Prabhākara—supporting a name-based contemplation (nāma-smaraṇa) that accompanies Linga-pūjā, where the Linga is revered as the steadfast support and inner light.

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

Shiva is presented as Dhṛtimat (unshakable sustaining power) and Prabhākara (the supreme illuminator of consciousness), indicating Pati as both the ground of stability and the revealer who dispels avidyā binding the paśu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Primarily nāma-japa and dhyāna: meditating on Shiva as the inner light (Prabhākara) and cultivating steadiness (dhṛti) in Pāśupata-oriented discipline while performing Linga-arcana.