पंचालः पुण्डरीकस्तु पुत्रौ संस्थाप्य मन्दिरे । विविशतुर्वनं तत्र गतौ परमिकां गतिम्
paṃcālaḥ puṇḍarīkastu putrau saṃsthāpya mandire | viviśaturvanaṃ tatra gatau paramikāṃ gatim
Pañcāla e Puṇḍarīka, após instalarem devidamente seus dois filhos no templo como guardiões e sucessores, entraram na floresta. Ali, pela graça do Senhor Śiva e pelo amadurecimento de sua bhakti, alcançaram o estado supremo — o mais alto objetivo.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Significance: Models the Śaiva ideal of handing over temple-duties to successors and then pursuing vānaprastha/saṃnyāsa oriented toward Śiva’s grace (anugraha) culminating in paramagati (mokṣa).
It presents the Shaiva ideal of completing one’s worldly responsibilities in a dharmic way and then embracing vairāgya (renunciation), culminating in the “supreme state” (paramikā gati), understood as liberation through Śiva’s grace.
By placing their sons in the temple, the verse implies continuity of temple-based Saguna Śiva worship (Liṅga-sevā). Their own withdrawal to the forest reflects inner worship and detachment, showing both external devotion and inward maturity leading toward mokṣa.
The verse points to a life-arc: maintain regular temple worship (Liṅga-pūjā) and, at the stage of renunciation, intensify japa of Śiva-mantras (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with meditation and disciplined living.