Shloka 176

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

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच तयोः श्रुत्वा महादेवो विज्ञप्तिं परमेश्वरः सारथ्ये वाहनत्वे च कल्पयामास वै भवः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca tayoḥ śrutvā mahādevo vijñaptiṃ parameśvaraḥ sārathye vāhanatve ca kalpayāmāsa vai bhavaḥ

Translation

سوت نے کہا—ان کی عرضداشت سن کر پرمیشور مہادیو بھَو نے حقیقتاً سارَتھی اور سواری اٹھانے والے کا کردار قبول فرما لیا۔

Word by Word

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• तयोः: of the two (of them)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Great God)

• विज्ञप्तिम्: request, petition

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord

• सारथ्ये: in the office of charioteer

• वाहनत्वे: in the state/role of being a vehicle (mount-bearer)

• च: and

• कल्पयामास: arranged, resolved, consented to undertake

• वै: indeed

• भवः: Bhava (an epithet of Śiva)

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva
• Parameshvara
• Bhava

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s supreme yet accessible nature: the same Parameśvara worshipped as the Liṅga willingly takes supportive roles, teaching that Liṅga-pūjā is grounded in humility, devotion, and receiving Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

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

Śiva is called Parameśvara and Bhava, indicating transcendence (Pati, the Lord of all) alongside immanence—He freely adopts roles within the world without losing sovereignty, a key Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis on divine freedom (svātantrya) and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse primarily underscores bhakti and śaraṇāgati (surrender): when pashus approach Pati with a sincere petition, Śiva responds with grace—an inner principle supporting Pāśupata-oriented discipline and devotion-centered worship.