Shloka 8

दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः

Devanagari script

निवृत्तिलक्षणज्ञानप्रतिष्ठार्थं च शङ्करः देवदारुवनस्थानां प्रवृत्तिज्ञानचेतसाम्

Transliteration

nivṛttilakṣaṇajñānapratiṣṭhārthaṃ ca śaṅkaraḥ devadāruvanasthānāṃ pravṛttijñānacetasām

Translation

निवृत्तिलक्षणज्ञानप्रतिष्ठार्थं च शङ्करः। देवदारुवनस्थानां प्रवृत्तिज्ञानचेतसाम्॥

Word by Word

• निवृत्ति-लक्षण: characterized by withdrawal/renunciation

• ज्ञान: true knowledge (jñāna)

• प्रतिष्ठा-अर्थम्: for the purpose of establishing firmly

• च: and

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara (Lord Shiva, the auspicious one)

• देवदारुवन-स्थानाम्: of those residing in the Devadāru forest

• प्रवृत्ति-ज्ञान: knowledge oriented to outward action/ritual (pravṛtti)

• चेतसाम्: of those whose minds/consciousness are (so inclined)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva’s purpose as establishing nivṛtti-jñāna—implying that Linga worship is not merely external ritual (pravṛtti), but a means to inward turning toward Pati (Shiva) beyond bondage.

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

Shiva appears as Śaṅkara, the gracious Pati, who reorients beings from outwardly fixated knowledge to liberating insight—showing Shiva-tattva as the source and establisher of mokṣa-giving jñāna.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights a shift from pravṛtti-centered ritualism to nivṛtti-centered discipline—aligned with Pāśupata orientation: inner purification, detachment, and knowledge that loosens pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul).