Shloka 15

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

ननु स्वभावः सर्वेषां कामो दृष्टो न चान्यथा श्रुतिः प्रवर्तिका तेषाम् इति कर्मण्यतद्विदः

Transliteration

nanu svabhāvaḥ sarveṣāṃ kāmo dṛṣṭo na cānyathā śrutiḥ pravartikā teṣām iti karmaṇyatadvidaḥ

Translation

നിശ്ചയമായും ആഗ്രഹം (കാമം) എല്ലാ ജീവികളുടെയും സ്വഭാവമായി കാണപ്പെടുന്നു; അതല്ലാതെ മറ്റൊന്നുമില്ല. അതുകൊണ്ട് കർമ്മതത്ത്വം യഥാർത്ഥത്തിൽ അറിയാത്തവർ—ശ്രുതിയാണ് അവരെ കർമ്മത്തിലേക്ക് പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുന്നത് എന്നു പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• nanu: indeed/surely

• svabhāvaḥ: innate nature

• sarveṣām: of all (beings)

• kāmaḥ: desire/impulse

• dṛṣṭaḥ: is observed

• na: not

• ca: and

• anyathā: otherwise

• śrutiḥ: Vedic revelation

• pravartikā: that which sets in motion/impels

• teṣām: for them

• iti: thus

• karmaṇi: in action/ritual action

• atadvidaḥ: those who do not know that (truth)/the undiscerning

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching within the Linga Purana’s discourse on karma and knowledge)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that ritual activity driven by desire (kāma) is a lower motivation; true Linga worship aims at purification and loosening pāśa (bondage) so the pashu (soul) turns toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By implication, Shiva-tattva stands beyond desire and the compulsion of karma; those who mistake śruti as merely a promoter of desire-based rites have not grasped the higher intent that leads the soul toward Shiva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway supports Pashupata-oriented discipline: perform rites without kāmya craving and cultivate knowledge/dispassion so karma becomes purifying rather than binding.