Shloka 70

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

दुर्गारूढमृगाधिपा दुरतिगा दोर्दण्डवृन्दैः शिवा बिभ्राणाङ्कुशशूलपाशपरशुं चक्रासिशङ्खायुधम् प्रौढादित्यसहस्रसदृशैर्नेत्रैर्दहन्ती पथं बालाबालपराक्रमा भगवती दैत्यान्प्रहर्तुं ययौ

Transliteration

durgārūḍhamṛgādhipā duratigā dordaṇḍavṛndaiḥ śivā bibhrāṇāṅkuśaśūlapāśaparaśuṃ cakrāsiśaṅkhāyudham prauḍhādityasahasrasadṛśairnetrairdahantī pathaṃ bālābālaparākramā bhagavatī daityānprahartuṃ yayau

Translation

दुर्गासिंहारूढा शुभा शिवा दुर्जया बहुभुजसमन्विता अङ्कुशशूलपाशपरशुचक्रासिशङ्खायुधधारिणी। सहस्रप्रौढादित्यसदृशैर्नेत्रैः पन्थानं दहन्ती, अतुलपराक्रमा सा भगवती दैत्यान् प्रहर्तुं प्रस्थितवती॥

Word by Word

• दुर्गारूढ: mounted as Durgā

• मृगाधिपा: lion (lord of beasts)

• दुरतिगा: difficult to surpass/assail

• दोर्दण्डवृन्दैः: with clusters of powerful arms

• शिवा: the auspicious Goddess (Śivā/Devī)

• बिभ्राणा: bearing/holding

• अङ्कुश: goad

• शूल: spear/trident-spear

• पाश: noose (bond-binding weapon)

• परशु: axe

• चक्र: discus

• असि: sword

• शङ्खायुधम्: conch as a weapon/armed with conch

• प्रौढ: fully grown, blazing

• आदित्यसहस्रसदृशैः: like a thousand suns

• नेत्रैः: with eyes

• दहन्ती: burning/scorching

• पथम्: the path/way

• बालाबालपराक्रमा: of immeasurable valor (beyond the strong and the weak)

• भगवती: the Blessed Goddess

• दैत्यान्: the Daityas (asuric foes)

• प्रहर्तुम्: to strike down

• ययौ: went forth.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva (Shivā/Devī)
• Durga
• Devi
• Daityas

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śivā (Devī) as the active Śakti of Pati (Śiva), protecting dharma by destroying asuric forces; in Linga worship this reinforces that devotion to the Liṅga is inseparable from honoring Śiva’s inseparable power (Śakti) who removes obstacles and safeguards the sādhaka.

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

By portraying Śivā as invincible, radiant, and fully armed, the text points to Shiva-tattva as sovereign consciousness (Pati) expressed through Śakti—where the Lord’s transcendence is mirrored as immanent power that burns ignorance and subdues adharmic tendencies.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Implicitly, it highlights protection and bondage-cutting symbolism: the pāśa (noose) and blazing eyes signify mastery over pasha (bondage) and kleshas; for Pāśupata-oriented sādhana this aligns with surrender to Pati-Śiva through Liṅga-pūjā and disciplined inner conquest of asuric impulses.