Shloka 16

Devanagari script

पञ्चभिश् च कपालीशः षड्भिः संदारकः शुभः कोटिकोटिभिर् एवेह गण्डकः कुंभकस् तथा

Transliteration

pañcabhiś ca kapālīśaḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ saṃdārakaḥ śubhaḥ koṭikoṭibhir eveha gaṇḍakaḥ kuṃbhakas tathā

Translation

В пяти проявлениях Его славят как Капālīшу (Kapālīśa), Владыку, несущего череп; в шести — как благого Самдāраку (Saṃdāraka), устраняющего скорби. А бесчисленными коти-коти проявлений здесь Он также известен как Гандака (Gaṇḍaka) и как Кумбхака (Kumbhaka) — Тот, чья сила вмещает, поддерживает и собирает всё в Самом Себе.

Word by Word

• पञ्चभिः: with five (modes/forms)

• च: and

• कपालीशः: Kapālīśa, Lord bearing a skull (ascetic Shiva)

• षड्भिः: with six (modes/forms)

• संदारकः: Saṃdāraka, destroyer/remover (of obstacles/afflictions)

• शुभः: auspicious, beneficent

• कोटिकोटिभिः: by crores upon crores (countless)

• एव: indeed

• इह: here (in this world/teaching)

• गण्डकः: Gaṇḍaka (a name/epithet of Shiva, the powerful one)

• कुंभकः: Kumbhaka (the one who contains/holds

• तथा: and also

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as devotion to the one Pati (Shiva) who appears through specific counted forms (five, six) and also as limitless manifestations, affirming that the Linga signifies the infinite Lord beyond enumeration.

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

Shiva is presented as both definable through sacred epithets and ultimately immeasurable—known by particular aspects (Kapālīśa, Saṃdāraka) yet transcending all limits through ‘crores upon crores’ of forms, the sovereign Pati over all pashus.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Sahasranama-style nāma-japa and stotra-recitation are implied; the epithet “Kumbhaka” also resonates with yogic ‘holding/retention,’ pointing to inner containment and steadiness aligned with Pāśupata discipline.