Shloka 23

उपलेपनादिकथनम्

Vastraputa-jala, Ahimsa, and Conduct in Shiva Worship

Devanagari script

प्रसंगाद्वापि यो मर्त्यः सतां सकृदहो द्विजाः रुद्रलोकमवाप्नोति समभ्यर्च्य महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

prasaṃgādvāpi yo martyaḥ satāṃ sakṛdaho dvijāḥ rudralokamavāpnoti samabhyarcya maheśvaram

Translation

Wahai para dwija, bahkan seorang insan fana yang hanya secara kebetulan menyembah Mahēśvara sekali sahaja dalam pergaulan orang-orang saleh, akan mencapai alam Rudra.

Word by Word

• प्रसंगात्: by chance/incidentally

• वा अपि: even

• यः: who

• मर्त्यः: a mortal

• सताम्: of the good/saints

• सकृत्: once

• अहो: indeed!/surely

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (Brahmins)

• रुद्रलोकम्: Rudra’s realm

• अवाप्नोति: attains

• समभ्यर्च्य: having duly worshipped

• महेश्वरम्: Maheshvara (Shiva, the Supreme Lord)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It declares that even a single act of Maheshvara-archana—especially in satsanga—has immense merit, capable of granting Rudraloka, underscoring the exceptional potency of Linga/Shiva worship.

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

Shiva is implied as Pati, the supreme Lord whose grace can uplift the pashu (individual soul) beyond pasha (bondage) through even minimal but sincere contact with worship and the holy.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Shiva-archana (formal worship) supported by satsanga; the verse emphasizes bhakti-based puja as a direct, grace-bearing means, aligned with Pashupata orientation toward devotion and purification.