Shloka 54

Devanagari script

शाण्डिल्यानां वरः श्रीमान् देवलः सुमहातपाः शाण्डिल्या नैध्रुवा रैभ्यास् त्रयः पक्षास्तु काश्यपाः

Transliteration

śāṇḍilyānāṃ varaḥ śrīmān devalaḥ sumahātapāḥ śāṇḍilyā naidhruvā raibhyās trayaḥ pakṣāstu kāśyapāḥ

Translation

ശാണ്ഡില്യരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ, ശ്രീമാനും മഹാതപസ്വിയുമായ ദേവലനായിരുന്നു. ശാണ്ഡില്യ, നൈധ്രുവ, റൈഭ്യ—ഇവ കാശ്യപവംശത്തിലെ മൂന്ന് ശാഖകൾ (പക്ഷങ്ങൾ) എന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• शाण्डिल्यानाम्: of the Śāṇḍilyas

• वरः: the best, foremost

• श्रीमान्: illustrious, venerable

• देवलः: Devala (name of a sage)

• सुमहातपाः: possessing very great tapas/austerity

• शाण्डिल्याः: the Śāṇḍilyas (group/line)

• नैध्रुवाः: the Naidhruvas (branch/line)

• रैभ्याः: the Raibhyas (branch/line)

• त्रयः: three

• पक्षाः: branches, divisions

• तु: indeed

• काश्यपाः: of Kāśyapa’s lineage / Kāśyapas

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Devala
• Kashyapa
• Shandilya

FAQs

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

It anchors ritual authority: gotra-pravara lineages (like the Kāśyapa branches) preserve Vedic transmission, which supports correct mantra, homa, and śaiva-vidhi used alongside Linga-pūjā.

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

Indirectly: by praising Devala’s tapas, it points to the Shaiva ideal that purification through austerity and dharma prepares the paśu (bound soul) to turn toward Pati (Śiva), the liberator from pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity) as a foundational discipline—supporting Pāśupata-aligned self-restraint and steadiness that make pūjā and mantra effective.