Shloka 177

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

नेत्रं च नेता जगतां प्रभुर्वै पद्मसन्निभम् तदाप्रभृति तं प्राहुः पद्माक्षमिति सुव्रतम्

Transliteration

netraṃ ca netā jagatāṃ prabhurvai padmasannibham tadāprabhṛti taṃ prāhuḥ padmākṣamiti suvratam

Translation

ലോകങ്ങളുടെ പ്രഭുവും നേതാവും മാർഗ്ഗദർശകനുമായ അവന്റെ നേത്രം പദ്മസദൃശമാണ്. അന്നുമുതൽ സുവ്രതന്മാരായ ഋഷിമാർ അവനെ ‘പദ്മാക്ഷ’—പദ്മനേത്രൻ—എന്ന് വിളിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• नेत्रम्: eye

• च: and

• नेता: leader/guide

• जगताम्: of the worlds

• प्रभुः: Lord/Master (Pati)

• वै: indeed

• पद्म-सन्निभम्: resembling a lotus

• तदा-प्रभृति: from that time onward

• तम्: Him

• प्राहुः: they called/declared

• पद्म-अक्षम्: the Lotus-Eyed One

• इति: thus

• सुव्रतम्: the one of excellent vow/steadfast (epithet indicating disciplined sages or the Lord’s unwavering dharma)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It supports nāma-smaraṇa (recitation of Shiva’s names) as a valid mode of upāsanā; meditating on “Padmākṣa” steadies the pashu (individual soul) toward the Pati through devotion and clarity.

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

Shiva is presented as prabhu and netā—supreme Lord and inner guide—whose lotus-like eye signifies pure, unstained consciousness that illumines and governs the worlds.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Japa and dhyāna on Shiva’s epithets—specifically visualizing the lotus-eyed Lord—aligns with Pāśupata-oriented contemplation that loosens pāśa (bondage) through focused remembrance.