Shloka 22

श्वेतमुनिना कालस्य निग्रहः (मृत्युञ्जय-भक्ति-प्रसादः)

Devanagari script

ननाद चोर्ध्वमुच्चधीर् निरीक्ष्य चान्तकान्तकम् निरीक्षणेन वै मृतं भवस्य विप्रपुङ्गवाः

Transliteration

nanāda cordhvamuccadhīr nirīkṣya cāntakāntakam nirīkṣaṇena vai mṛtaṃ bhavasya viprapuṅgavāḥ

Translation

स ऊर्ध्वं निरीक्ष्योच्चैर्ननाद; अन्तकान्तकं तं दृष्ट्वा भवेन, विप्रपुङ्गवाः, केवलदृष्ट्या एव स मृतोऽभवत्।

Word by Word

• ननाद: roared

• च: and

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upward

• उच्चधीः: the high-minded one / the resolute one

• निरीक्ष्य: having looked / beholding

• च: and

• अन्तकान्तकम्: the slayer of the Ender (a dread epithet indicating a death-dealing adversary)

• निरीक्षणेन: by (mere) looking / by the glance

• वै: indeed

• मृतम्: slain / made dead

• भवस्य: of Bhava (Śiva)

• विप्रपुङ्गवाः: O foremost among Brahmins

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Bhava)

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva (Bhava) as Pati whose mere awareness-glance dissolves even death-like forces; Linga worship centers on invoking that sovereign grace (anugraha) which cuts pasha and protects the pashu.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as supreme icchā-jñāna-kriyā śakti: without weapons or effort, his jñāna (cognizing glance) is sufficient to end the adversary—signifying transcendence over anta (death/termination) and all limiting powers.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implies the Pāśupata emphasis on śiva-dṛṣṭi (abidance in Śiva’s awareness): through steady contemplation of the Lord (linga-dhyāna), the yogin seeks the purifying ‘glance’ of grace that destroys inner enemies like fear and death-consciousness.