Shloka 57

Devanagari script

चतुर्विधानां भूतानां प्रवर्तकनिवर्तकः तस्यापि भगवान् रुद्रः साक्षाद्देवः प्रवर्तकः

Transliteration

caturvidhānāṃ bhūtānāṃ pravartakanivartakaḥ tasyāpi bhagavān rudraḥ sākṣāddevaḥ pravartakaḥ

Translation

நான்கு வகை உயிர்களுக்கும் அவனே செயலில் ஈடுபடுத்துபவனும் அடக்குபவனும். அந்த ஆளும் தத்துவத்திற்கும் நேரடியான தூண்டுபவன் பகவான் ருத்ரன்—தேவரூபில் எல்லா இயக்கத்திற்கும் தொடக்கமளிப்பவன்.

Word by Word

• चतुर्विधानाम् (caturvidhānām): of the fourfold kinds

• भूतानाम् (bhūtānām): of beings/creatures

• प्रवर्तक (pravartaka): impeller/initiator

• निवर्तकः (nivartakaḥ): restrainer/withdrawer

• तस्यापि (tasyāpi): even of that (principle/agent)

• भगवान् (bhagavān): the Blessed Lord

• रुद्रः (rudraḥ): Rudra (Śiva)

• साक्षात् (sākṣāt): directly, manifestly

• देवः (devaḥ): the Divine One

• प्रवर्तकः (pravartakaḥ): the prime mover/impeller

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya, summarizing Shaiva doctrine)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Rudra (the Lord indicated by the Linga) as the direct source of all activation and withdrawal in beings—so Linga-puja is worship of the very Pati who governs creation, maintenance, and reabsorption.

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

Shiva is presented as the sākṣāt (immediate) divine pravartaka: the transcendent-yet-immanent Lord who empowers all agencies, directing the pashus (souls) within pasha (bondage) toward activity or cessation according to cosmic order and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pashupata-oriented discipline: turning one’s pravṛtti (outgoing activity) and nivṛtti (withdrawal) into Shiva-centered practice through worship, mantra, and yogic restraint under the recognition that Shiva alone empowers both.