Shloka 64

Devanagari script

स्थलपद्मवनान्तस्थन्यग्रोधे ऽशेषभोगिनः शेषस्त्वशेषजगतां पतिरास्ते ऽतिगर्वितः

Transliteration

sthalapadmavanāntasthanyagrodhe 'śeṣabhoginaḥ śeṣastvaśeṣajagatāṃ patirāste 'tigarvitaḥ

Translation

ภายในต้นไทรที่ตั้งอยู่กลางพงพฤกษาแห่งป่าดอกบัวบนพื้นพิภพนั้น มีเศษะนาคผู้มีวงขดไม่สิ้นสุดสถิตอยู่; ด้วยความทะนงยิ่ง เขาหลงคิดว่าตนเป็นปติผู้เป็นเจ้าแห่งโลกทั้งปวง।

Word by Word

• स्थल: on the earth/ground

• पद्मवन: lotus-forest

• अन्तस्थ: situated within/inside

• न्यग्रोधे: in/at the banyan tree

• अशेषभोगिनः: of the serpent with endless coils (lit. ‘endless-hooded/coil-bearing’)

• शेषः: Śeṣa (Ananta)

• तु: indeed/but

• अशेषजगताम्: of all the worlds/entire cosmos

• पतिः: lord/master (pati)

• आस्ते: sits/abides

• अतिगर्वितः: excessively proud/arrogant

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shesha
• Pati

FAQs

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

By depicting even cosmic beings like Śeṣa as prone to pride in claiming “lordship,” the verse implicitly redirects worship toward the true Pati—Śiva—whose Linga is revered as the supreme sign of sovereign reality beyond all subordinate powers.

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

Through contrast: Śeṣa is called “pati” only in a proud, mistaken sense, highlighting the Shaiva Siddhanta distinction that the real Pati is Śiva alone—independent, unsurpassed, and the ultimate governor of all worlds, while others remain dependent tattvas.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: cultivate humility and discernment (viveka) so the paśu (bound soul) does not imitate false sovereignty; instead, one performs Shiva-pūjā and inner surrender to the Linga as the true Pati.