Shloka 21

Adhyaya 33: Pashupata Conduct, Bhasma-Vrata, and Shiva’s Boon to the Sages

Devanagari script

गौतमो ऽत्रिः सुकेशश् च पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः मरीचिः कश्यपः कण्वः संवर्तश् च महातपाः

Transliteration

gautamo 'triḥ sukeśaś ca pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ marīciḥ kaśyapaḥ kaṇvaḥ saṃvartaś ca mahātapāḥ

Translation

గౌతముడు, అత్రి, సుకేశుడు; పులస్త్యుడు, పులహుడు, క్రతువు; మరీచి, కశ్యపుడు, కణ్వుడు, సంవర్తుడు—ఇవన్నీ మహాతపస్వులు, తపస్సులో మహానుభావులు।

Word by Word

• गौतमः: Gautama (a great sage)

• अत्रिः: Atri (a great sage)

• सुकेशः: Sukeśa (a sage)

• च: and

• पुलस्त्यः: Pulastya (a Prajāpati-sage)

• पुलहः: Pulaha (a Prajāpati-sage)

• क्रतुः: Kratu (a Prajāpati-sage)

• मरीचिः: Marīci (a mind-born sage of Brahmā)

• कश्यपः: Kaśyapa (progenitor-sage)

• कण्वः: Kaṇva (a sage)

• संवर्तः: Saṃvarta (a sage)

• महातपाः: great ascetics / those of immense austerity

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Atri
• Sukeśa
• Pulastya
• Pulaha
• Kratu
• Marīci
• Kaśyapa
• Kaṇva
• Saṃvarta

FAQs

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

It establishes the rishi-lineage (ṛṣi-paramparā) that preserves mantra, ritual order, and dharma—foundational for Śiva-liṅga installation and worship as transmitted through authoritative seers.

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

Indirectly, by honoring the mahātapas sages whose tapas becomes a vessel for Śiva’s anugraha (grace): Pati (Śiva) is approached through purified consciousness, while the pashu (individual soul) is refined by tapas to loosen pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity/discipline) is highlighted as the core yogic force—aligned with Pāśupata discipline—by which sages gain steadiness, purity, and eligibility for Śaiva mantra and liṅga-upāsanā.