Shloka 4

Devanagari script

कथं ददाह भगवान् भगनेत्रनिपातनः एकेनेषुनिपातेन दिव्येनापि तदा कथम्

Transliteration

kathaṃ dadāha bhagavān bhaganetranipātanaḥ ekeneṣunipātena divyenāpi tadā katham

Translation

ഭഗവാൻ—ഭഗന്റെ കണ്ണ് വീഴ്ത്തിയവൻ—അവൻ അന്ന് (അവയെ) എങ്ങനെ ദഹിപ്പിച്ചു? ദിവ്യശരമായിട്ടും ഒരൊറ്റ അമ്പിന്റെ പതനത്തിലൂടെ അത് എങ്ങനെ സാധ്യമായി?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?

• ददाह: burned/consumed

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord (Pati, Shiva)

• भगनेत्रनिपातनः: the one who caused the fall of Bhaga’s eye

• एकेन: by one/single

• इषु-निपातेन: by the descent/impact of an arrow

• दिव्येन अपि: even though (it was) divine/supernatural

• तदा: then/at that time

• कथम्: how (indeed)?

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; voicing the inquiry within the episode)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhaga

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as Pati whose mere will—symbolized by a single divine arrow—can reduce obstacles and egoic ritualism to ashes, teaching that true worship of the Linga rests on surrender to Shiva’s supreme tejas rather than mere external performance.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as autonomous and unsurpassed: His power does not depend on many instruments; even one divine act is sufficient because His consciousness (cit) and fire-like potency (tejas) instantly dissolves pasha (bondage) afflicting the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pashupata discipline: purification through Shiva’s grace that ‘burns’ impurities—encouraging inner surrender, mantra-japa, and focused worship where the devotee seeks the removal of pasha rather than mere ritual display.