Shloka 109

Devanagari script

अन्यत्र रमते मूढः सो ऽज्ञानी नात्र संशयः संसारहेतुरज्ञानं संसारस्तनुसंग्रहः

Transliteration

anyatra ramate mūḍhaḥ so 'jñānī nātra saṃśayaḥ saṃsāraheturajñānaṃ saṃsārastanusaṃgrahaḥ

Translation

ശിവനെ വിട്ട് മറ്റുള്ളതിൽ മോഹിച്ച് രമിക്കുന്ന മൂഢൻ നിസ്സംശയം അജ്ഞാനിയാണ്. അജ്ഞാനമാണ് സംസാരത്തിന്റെ കാരണം; സംസാരം എന്നത് ജീവൻ ദേഹം സ്വീകരിച്ച് ദേഹസംഗ്രഹം (വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും ശരീരധാരണം) ചെയ്യുന്നതാണ്.

Word by Word

• anyatra: elsewhere/other than the Highest (Śiva)

• ramate: takes delight, revels

• mūḍhaḥ: deluded, bewildered

• saḥ: he

• ajñānī: one without true knowledge

• na atra saṃśayaḥ: there is no doubt here

• saṃsāra-hetuḥ: cause of transmigratory existence

• ajñānam: ignorance (avidyā)

• saṃsāraḥ: cycle of birth and death

• tanu-saṃgrahaḥ: gathering/appropriating bodies, clinging to embodiment

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as a turning away from “anyatra” (external, non-Śiva-centered attachments) toward the Pati (Śiva), since avidyā-driven attachment is identified as the root of saṃsāra.

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

By implication, Śiva-tattva is the true locus of liberating knowledge: delighting in what is ‘other’ signals separation from Śiva-knowledge, while orientation to Śiva is the remedy for avidyā and bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A core Pāśupata takeaway is vairāgya and ekāgratā toward Śiva—reducing “anyatra-rati” (scattered enjoyment) through Śiva-dhyāna and Linga-upāsanā to cut the pasha of ignorance.