Shloka 97

Devanagari script

एवं विज्ञापयन्प्रीतः शङ्करं नरकेसरी नन्वशक्तो भवान् विष्णो जीवितान्तं पराजितः

Transliteration

evaṃ vijñāpayanprītaḥ śaṅkaraṃ narakesarī nanvaśakto bhavān viṣṇo jīvitāntaṃ parājitaḥ

Translation

एवं विज्ञापयन् प्रीतो नरकेसरी शङ्करं प्रत्युवाच— “नन्वशक्तो भवान् विष्णो, जीवितान्तं पराजितः।”

Word by Word

• एवं: thus

• विज्ञापयन्: informing/addressing (submitting a statement)

• प्रीतः: pleased, delighted

• शङ्करम्: to Śaṅkara (Śiva)

• नरकेसरी: Narakeśarī (Naraka-like lion/hero

• ननु: indeed, surely

• अशक्तः: powerless, incapable

• भवान्: you (honorific)

• विष्णो: O Viṣṇu (vocative)

• जीवितान्तम्: till the end of life, to life’s limit

• पराजितः: defeated, overcome

Speaker

Narakesari (asura/warrior) speaking to Shiva, taunting Vishnu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames Śaṅkara as the decisive Pati whose presence humbles all power-claims; Linga-worship is thus aligned with surrender and recognition of Shiva’s unsurpassed lordship, not mere martial strength.

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

By placing the taunt before Śaṅkara, the narrative implies Shiva-tattva as the unshaken sovereign principle: beyond the rise and fall of embodied powers, the Pati who alone can loosen Pāśa (bondage) for the Pashu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implicit yogic takeaway is Pāśupata discipline of ego-subjugation—recognizing asuric pride as a bond (pāśa) and turning toward Shiva (Pati) with reverence rather than rivalry.