Shloka 20

अग्नित्रय-पितृवंश-रुद्रसृष्टि-वैराग्योपदेशः

Devanagari script

शंकरो ऽपि तदा रुद्रैर् निवृत्तात्मा ह्यधिष्ठितः स्थाणुत्वं तस्य वै विप्राः शंकरस्य महात्मनः

Transliteration

śaṃkaro 'pi tadā rudrair nivṛttātmā hyadhiṣṭhitaḥ sthāṇutvaṃ tasya vai viprāḥ śaṃkarasya mahātmanaḥ

Translation

అప్పుడు రుద్రులచే అధిష్ఠితుడై, అంతర్ముఖుడైన (నివృత్తాత్మ) శంకరుడు స్థాణుత్వాన్ని—అచల ధృఢరూపాన్ని—ధరించాడు; ఓ విప్రులారా, ఆ మహాత్మ శంకరుడు।

Word by Word

• शंकरः (śaṃkaraḥ): Śaṅkara (Shiva)

• अपि (api): also/indeed

• तदा (tadā): then

• रुद्रैः (rudraiḥ): by the Rudras

• निवृत्तात्मा (nivṛttātmā): one whose self is withdrawn/inward-turned

• हि (hi): indeed

• अधिष्ठितः (adhiṣṭhitaḥ): established/installed/abiding

• स्थाणुत्वम् (sthāṇutvam): the state of Sthāṇu, immovability/steadfastness

• तस्य (tasya): of him

• वै (vai): verily

• विप्राः (viprāḥ): O brāhmaṇas/sages

• शंकरस्य (śaṃkarasya): of Śaṅkara

• महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ): of the great-souled one.

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudras

FAQs

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

It points to Shiva’s Sthāṇu nature—still, unwavering, and transcendent—mirrored by the Linga as the stable axis (dhruva) of worship where the devotee anchors mind and prāṇa in Pati.

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

Shiva is shown as nivṛtta-ātmā—withdrawn from outward activity—yet fully established as the supreme, immovable reality (Sthāṇu), indicating Pati beyond change while sustaining cosmic order through his Rudra powers.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key yogic cue is nivṛtti (inward withdrawal): a Pāśupata-oriented stilling of the mind that contemplates Shiva as Sthāṇu, supporting dhyāna and steady Linga-upāsanā.