Shloka 32

अन्धक-हिरण्याक्ष-प्रसङ्गः, वराहावतारः, दंष्ट्राभूषणं च

Devanagari script

कथं विमुक्तिर्विप्राणां तस्माद्दंष्ट्री महेश्वरः

Transliteration

kathaṃ vimuktirviprāṇāṃ tasmāddaṃṣṭrī maheśvaraḥ

Translation

ആ മഹേശ്വരനിൽ നിന്ന്—ദംഷ്ട്രീരൂപത്തിൽ രക്ഷകനും സംഹാരകനുമായി പ്രത്യക്ഷനാകുന്നവനിൽ നിന്ന്—വിപ്രന്മാർക്ക് വിമുക്തി എങ്ങനെ ലഭിക്കുന്നു? അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് പശുവിന്റെ പാശങ്ങൾ മുറിച്ച് മോക്ഷം നൽകുന്നത്।

Word by Word

• कथम्: how

• विमुक्तिः: liberation, release

• विप्राणाम्: of the vipras (brahmins/seers)

• तस्मात्: from Him/therefore from that (Supreme)

• दंष्ट्री: the fanged one, tusked/fanged form (symbol of protective power that destroys obstacles)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara, the Great Lord (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal question within the discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames liberation (vimukti) as arising from Maheśvara alone—implying that Linga-pūjā is effective when it is oriented to Śiva as Pati, the remover of pāśa (bondage) from the paśu (individual soul).

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

Śiva is indicated as Maheśvara, the supreme Lord whose power can both protect and destroy obstacles—suggested by “daṃṣṭrī”—and who grants release beyond mere ritual merit through divine grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to the goal of Pāśupata-oriented discipline: seeking vimukti through devotion, worship, and inner surrender to Śiva as Pati, rather than relying only on external acts.