Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

मन्त्रा घण्टाः स्मृतास्तेषां वर्णाः पादास्तथाश्रमाः अवच्छेदो ह्यनन्तस्तु सहस्रफणभूषितः

Transliteration

mantrā ghaṇṭāḥ smṛtāsteṣāṃ varṇāḥ pādāstathāśramāḥ avacchedo hyanantastu sahasraphaṇabhūṣitaḥ

Translation

அவர்களின் மந்திரங்கள் மணி ஒலிபோல் நினைவுகூரப்படுகின்றன; எழுத்துகள் பாதங்கள், வர்ண-ஆசிரமங்கள் ஆதாரங்கள். ஆனால் அவற்றின் உண்மையான எல்லை இல்லை—ஆயிரம் பாம்புத் தலைகளால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட அனந்தன்; எல்லா அளவிடப்பட்ட பிரிவுகளுக்கும் அப்பாற்பட்ட பரம பதி சிவன்.

Word by Word

• मन्त्राः (mantrāḥ): sacred formulas

• घण्टाः (ghaṇṭāḥ): bells/resonant chimes

• स्मृताः (smṛtāḥ): are remembered/considered

• तेषाम् (teṣām): of those/thereof

• वर्णाः (varṇāḥ): classes/syllabic categories (also social orders)

• पादाः (pādāḥ): quarters/sections/feet

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• आश्रमाः (āśramāḥ): stages of life/spiritual disciplines

• अवच्छेदः (avacchedaḥ): limit/delimitation

• हि (hi): indeed

• अनन्तः (anantaḥ): the Infinite (Ananta)

• तु (tu): but/however

• सहस्रफणभूषितः (sahasraphaṇabhūṣitaḥ): adorned with a thousand hoods (serpent-hoods).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya; internal doctrinal description)

Characters & Entities

• Ananta

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-puja as fundamentally mantra-centered: ritual forms (varṇa, āśrama, pāda divisions) support practice, but the worship ultimately points to the limitless Pati beyond all boundaries.

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

Shiva-tattva is indicated as ananta—without delimitation (avaccheda). Even when approached through structured mantra and dharma frameworks, the Lord remains immeasurable and transcendent.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa and nāda-oriented contemplation: the verse suggests mantra as resonant “bell-sound,” guiding the pashu (soul) from structured practice toward the realization of the limitless Pati.