Shloka 58

अध्याय ९६: शरभ-प्रादुर्भावः, नृसिंह-दर्पशमनम्, विष्णोः शिवस्तुतिः, फलश्रुति

Devanagari script

उपहस्ता ज्वरं भीमो मृगपक्षिहिरण्मयः शास्ताशेषस्य जगतो न त्वं नैवचतुर्मुखः

Transliteration

upahastā jvaraṃ bhīmo mṛgapakṣihiraṇmayaḥ śāstāśeṣasya jagato na tvaṃ naivacaturmukhaḥ

Translation

‘உபஹஸ்தா, ஜ்வர, பீம, மிருக-பறவை வடிவம் தரிக்கும் ஹிரண்மயன்—அவனே மீதமுள்ள அனைத்துலகிற்கும் சாஸ்தா (நியந்தா). நீ அவன் அல்ல; நான்முகப் பிரம்மாவும் அல்ல.’

Word by Word

• उपहस्ता (upahastā): Upahastā, a fierce epithet/name of Rudra

• ज्वरम् (jvaram): fever, the afflicting heat (also personified as Jvara)

• भीमः (bhīmaḥ): the Terrible One, awe-inspiring Rudra

• मृग-पक्षि-हिरण्मयः (mṛga-pakṣi-hiraṇmayaḥ): the golden One who takes the forms of animals and birds

• शास्ता (śāstā): ruler, governor, chastiser

• अशेषस्य (aśeṣasya): of the entire, without remainder

• जगतः (jagataḥ): of the moving world/universe

• न (na): not

• त्वम् (tvam): you

• नैव (naiva): not indeed

• चतुर्मुखः (caturmukhaḥ): the four-faced one (Brahmā).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a doctrinal point asserting Shiva as Pati beyond Brahma and other devas)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva (Pati) as the sole universal governor beyond Brahmā and other powers, grounding Linga-worship in the recognition of the Supreme Lord rather than limited cosmic offices.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as sovereign and all-pervasive—capable of assuming manifold forms (even animal and bird forms) while remaining the ultimate Śāstā, the ruler of all worlds.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key takeaway aligns with Pāśupata orientation: discriminate Pati from all conditioned authorities (pashu-bound beings) and fix devotion and meditation on Shiva alone as the supreme ruler.