Shloka 23

Adhyaya 73 — त्रिपुरदाहे ब्रह्मस्तवः

Brahmā’s Hymn in the Context of Tripura’s Burning

Devanagari script

यत्क्षणं वा मुहूर्तं वा शिवमेकं न चिन्तयेत् भवभक्तिपरा ये च भवप्रणतचेतसः

Transliteration

yatkṣaṇaṃ vā muhūrtaṃ vā śivamekaṃ na cintayet bhavabhaktiparā ye ca bhavapraṇatacetasaḥ

Translation

ஒரு கணமோ ஒரு முகூர்த்தமோ கூட ஒரே சிவனை நினைவு செய்யாமல் விடக்கூடாது—குறிப்பாக பவனின் பக்தியில் நிலைத்தும், பவனின் பாதங்களில் பணிந்த உள்ளத்தோடும் இருப்போர்.

Word by Word

• yat-kṣaṇam: even for a moment

• vā: or

• muhūrtam: for a muhūrta (a sacred measure of time)

• vā: or

• śivam: Shiva

• ekam: the One (non-dual Supreme)

• na: not

• cintayet: should contemplate/remember

• bhava: Bhava (Shiva as Lord of becoming)

• bhakti-parāḥ: wholly devoted in devotion

• ye: who

• ca: and

• bhava-praṇata: bowed/prostrated to Bhava

• cetasaḥ: in heart/mind

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhava

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as sustained Shiva-smṛti: outer pūjā is fulfilled when the devotee does not let even a brief span pass without contemplating Shiva as the One Pati.

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

Shiva is presented as “Eka”—the singular Supreme reality (Pati) worthy of uninterrupted contemplation, while “Bhava” highlights Shiva as the Lord who governs becoming and dissolves bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Continuous remembrance (smaraṇa/cintana) akin to japa and dhyāna—an inner limb of Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā where the Pashu’s mind repeatedly returns to Pati, loosening Pāśa (bondage).