Shloka 23

क्षुपदधीचिसंवादः — शिलादतपः, वरसीमा, मेघवाहनकल्पे त्रिदेवसमागमः

Devanagari script

भवन्तमवहद्विष्णुर् देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम् नारायणादपि विभो भक्तो ऽहं तव शङ्कर

Transliteration

bhavantamavahadviṣṇur devadevaṃ jagadgurum nārāyaṇādapi vibho bhakto 'haṃ tava śaṅkara

Translation

พระวิษณุทรงสรรเสริญพระองค์— เทพเหนือเทพ ผู้เป็นครูแห่งจักรวาล โอ้พระศังกรผู้แผ่ซ่านยิ่ง แม้เหนือความเป็นนารายณ์ ข้าพเจ้าก็เป็นภักตะแด่พระองค์

Word by Word

• भवन्तम्: you (acc.)

• अवहत्: praised/declared aloud

• विष्णुः: Vishnu

• देवदेवम्: God of gods

• जगद्गुरुम्: teacher of the universe

• नारायणात् अपि: even beyond Narayana

• विभो: O all-powerful/pervading one

• भक्तः अहम्: I am a devotee

• तव: of you/your

• शङ्कर: O Shankara (beneficent Shiva)

Speaker

Vishnu (within Suta’s narration to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Narayana
• Shankara

FAQs

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

By declaring Shiva as Devadeva and Jagadguru, the verse establishes Shiva as the supreme Pati worthy of Linga-upasana, making worship an act of surrender to the cosmic Guru rather than mere ritual.

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

Shiva is presented as Vibhu (all-pervading) and Jagadguru (the inner teacher), indicating transcendence over deity-identities and affirming Shaiva Siddhanta’s view of Shiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) who guides and liberates the pashu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is bhakti as śaraṇāgati (devotional surrender) to Shiva—the foundational attitude that matures into Pashupata-oriented discipline: turning the pashu away from pasha through devotion to Pati.