Shloka 20

ब्रह्मकृत-ईशानस्तवः तथा विश्वरूपदेवी-प्रकृतिरहस्योपदेशः

Devanagari script

एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि यथेयं परमेश्वर कैषा भगवती देवी चतुष्पादा चतुर्मुखी

Transliteration

etadveditumicchāmi yatheyaṃ parameśvara kaiṣā bhagavatī devī catuṣpādā caturmukhī

Translation

Aku ingin memahami hal ini, wahai Parameśvara: bagaimana Dewi Yang Mulia itu tampak demikian—berkaki empat dan bermuka empat?

Word by Word

• etat: this (matter)

• veditum: to know, to understand

• icchāmi: I desire

• yathā: how, in what manner

• iyam: this (she)

• parameśvara: O Supreme Lord (Pati, Śiva)

• kaiṣā: what kind (of form) is this?

• bhagavatī: the Blessed, divine (Śakti)

• devī: Goddess

• catuṣpādā: four-footed

• caturmukhī: four-faced

Speaker

A devatā/ṛṣi-inquirer addressing Parameśvara (Śiva) within Sūta’s narration

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi (Shakti)

FAQs

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

It frames a key purāṇic inquiry: the devotee seeks clarity from Parameśvara about Śakti’s manifested form, reinforcing that right knowledge (jñāna) of Śiva-Śakti underlies true devotion and worship of the Linga as Pati (Lord) with His inseparable power.

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

Śiva is addressed as Parameśvara—the supreme Pati who explains the mysteries of manifestation. The verse implies Śiva-tattva as the authoritative revealer of Śakti’s forms, beyond confusion created by phenomenal appearances.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The immediate emphasis is on jijñāsā (spiritual inquiry) as a limb of sādhana: the seeker approaches Pati for insight into Śakti’s manifestation—knowledge that supports Pāśupata-oriented contemplation and correct intent in Linga-pūjā.