Shloka 182

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

Devanagari script

स्थूलैः सूक्ष्मैः सुसूक्ष्मैश् च महापातकसंभवैः पातकैश् च द्विजश्रेष्ठा उपपातकसंभवैः

Transliteration

sthūlaiḥ sūkṣmaiḥ susūkṣmaiś ca mahāpātakasaṃbhavaiḥ pātakaiś ca dvijaśreṣṭhā upapātakasaṃbhavaiḥ

Translation

ఓ ద్విజశ్రేష్ఠులారా, జీవులు స్థూల, సూక్ష్మ, సుసూక్ష్మ పాపాలచేత కలుషితులవుతారు—మహాపాతకముల నుండి, పాతకముల నుండి, అలాగే ఉపపాతకముల నుండి పుట్టిన పాపాలచేత.

Word by Word

• स्थूलैः: by gross (sins)

• सूक्ष्मैः: by subtle (sins)

• सुसूक्ष्मैः: by exceedingly subtle (sins)

• च: and

• महापातकसंभवैः: arising from great sins (mahāpātaka)

• पातकैः: by sins/transgressions (pātaka)

• च: and

• द्विजश्रेष्ठाः: O best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇa)

• उपपातकसंभवैः: arising from secondary sins (upapātaka)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic teaching to the sages; addressing a dvija within the discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames why Śiva-liṅga pūjā and prescribed prāyaścitta are necessary: the pashu (soul) is bound by pāśa through sins of varying subtlety, and purification is required to approach Śiva (Pati) with fitness.

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

By implication, Śiva-tattva stands as the pure Pati beyond all pātaka; the verse highlights the soul’s impurity (mala/karma-bandha) that must be removed so the pashu may turn toward Śiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāyaścitta (atonement and purification) is foregrounded—preparatory discipline that supports Śaiva observance such as liṅga-arcana, mantra-japa, vrata, and inner restraint aligned with Pāśupata-oriented purification.