Shloka 6

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

अकस्माच्च भवेत्स्थूलो ह्य् अकस्माच्च कृशो भवेत् प्रकृतेश् च निवर्तेत चाष्टौ मासांश् च जीवति

Transliteration

akasmācca bhavetsthūlo hy akasmācca kṛśo bhavet prakṛteś ca nivarteta cāṣṭau māsāṃś ca jīvati

Translation

Se alguém de repente se torna robusto, ou de repente se torna emagrecido, afastando-se de sua constituição natural, diz-se que viverá apenas mais oito meses.

Word by Word

• akasmāt: suddenly

• ca: and

• bhavet: becomes

• sthūlaḥ: stout, corpulent

• hi: indeed

• akasmāt: suddenly

• ca: and

• kṛśaḥ: thin, emaciated

• bhavet: becomes

• prakṛteḥ: from (one’s) natural constitution/temperament

• ca: and

• nivarteta: turns away, deviates

• ca: and

• aṣṭau: eight

• māsān: months

• ca: and

• jīvati: lives

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

FAQs

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

By marking sudden bodily change as a sign of shortened life, the verse urges the pashu (individual soul) to turn quickly toward Shiva (Pati) through Linga-puja, japa, and surrender, before time is lost.

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

Implicitly, it contrasts unstable prakṛti (changing body-mind) with Shiva-tattva as the steady Pati beyond change; recognizing prakṛti’s deviation becomes a prompt to seek refuge in the unchanging Lord.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Not a specific rite is named, but the teaching supports Pāśupata-style vigilance (smṛti of mortality) that intensifies daily Linga-arcana, mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and detachment from pasha (bondage).