Shloka 60

Adhyaya 84: शिवव्रतकथनम्

Uma–Maheshvara Vrata, Shula-dana, and Month-wise Ekabhakta Vrata

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणश्चाक्षसूत्रं च कमण्डलुमनुत्तमम् इन्द्रस्य वज्रम् अग्नेश् च शक्त्याख्यं परमायुधम्

Transliteration

brahmaṇaścākṣasūtraṃ ca kamaṇḍalumanuttamam indrasya vajram agneś ca śaktyākhyaṃ paramāyudham

Translation

Também, para Brahmā foram estabelecidos o rosário (akṣasūtra) e o incomparável pote de água (kamaṇḍalu); para Indra, o raio (vajra); e para Agni, a arma suprema chamada Śakti (lança)—assim se firmam os emblemas divinos pelos quais os deuses sustentam a ordem cósmica sob o Senhor, Pati.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ): of Brahmā

• च (ca): and

• अक्षसूत्रम् (akṣasūtram): rosary, string of beads

• च (ca): and

• कमण्डलुम् (kamaṇḍalum): water-pot of an ascetic

• अनुत्तमम् (anuttamam): unsurpassed, excellent

• इन्द्रस्य (indrasya): of Indra

• वज्रम् (vajram): thunderbolt

• अग्नेः (agneḥ): of Agni

• च (ca): and

• शक्त्याख्यम् (śakty-ākhyam): called ‘Śakti’ (spear/power-weapon)

• परमायुधम् (paramāyudham): supreme weapon

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Indra
• Agni
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the gods’ powers as delegated insignia under the supreme Pati (Shiva), implying that worship of the Linga honors the source from which all divine offices and ritual authorities arise.

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

By implying that Brahmā, Indra, and Agni operate with assigned emblems and weapons, it points to Shiva-tattva as the sovereign ground of śakti (power) that regulates cosmic functions beyond the limited roles of the devas.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The ascetic emblems (akṣasūtra and kamaṇḍalu) evoke mantra-japa and disciplined purity—supports for Shaiva sādhanā that loosens pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul) through devotion to the Pati.