Shloka 54

शिवार्चनविधिः — देवतानां पाशुपतव्रतप्राप्तिः तथा पशुपाशविमोक्षणम् (अध्याय ८०)

Devanagari script

तस्थुस्तदाग्रतः शंभोः प्रणिपत्य पुनः पुनः ततः सम्प्रेक्ष्य तान् सर्वान् देवदेवो वृषध्वजः

Transliteration

tasthustadāgrataḥ śaṃbhoḥ praṇipatya punaḥ punaḥ tataḥ samprekṣya tān sarvān devadevo vṛṣadhvajaḥ

Translation

तस्थुस्तदग्रतः शम्भोः प्रणिपत्य पुनः पुनः । ततः सम्प्रेक्ष्य तान्सर्वान् देवदेवो वृषध्वजः ॥

Word by Word

• तस्थुः: they stood

• तदाग्रतः: in front of Him/there before

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva, the Auspicious One)

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down/prostrated

• पुनः पुनः: again and again

• ततः: then/thereafter

• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: having looked upon/observed

• तान् सर्वान्: all of them

• देवदेवः: the God of gods

• वृषध्वजः: he whose emblem is the bull (Śiva).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages; internal scene description)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shambhu)
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights the foundational posture of Linga-bhakti—repeated praṇipāta (humble surrender) before Pati (Śiva), which prepares the worshipper for His anugraha (grace) and the next ritual or teaching.

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

Śiva is presented as Devadeva (supreme Lord) and Vṛṣadhvaja (Lord marked by dharma and mastery), who knowingly beholds all beings—signifying the Pati who witnesses the pashus and can release them from pāśa through grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Praṇipāta performed “again and again” indicates disciplined devotion and ego-surrender—an essential preparatory limb aligned with Pāśupata orientation, where humility and reverence precede instruction, mantra, or pūjā-vidhi.