Shloka 55
Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya
Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification
कृतेध्यानाज्ज्ञानसिद्धिस्त्रेतायां तपसा तथा । द्वापरे यजनाज्ज्ञानं प्रतिमापूजया कलौ
kṛtedhyānājjñānasiddhistretāyāṃ tapasā tathā | dvāpare yajanājjñānaṃ pratimāpūjayā kalau
کرت یگ میں دھیان سے گیان-سِدھی ہوتی ہے، تریتا یگ میں تپسیا سے بھی ویسی ہی۔ دواپر میں یجّیہ/یجن سے گیان ملتا ہے، اور کلی یگ میں پربھو کی پرتِما-پوجا سے گیان حاصل ہوتا ہے۔
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
FAQs
It teaches that the primary discipline for realizing liberating knowledge changes by yuga: meditation in Kṛta, austerity in Tretā, yajña in Dvāpara, and accessible devotional worship in Kali—showing Śiva’s compassion in providing an attainable path suited to the age.
By affirming pratimā-pūjā in Kali Yuga, it supports Saguna worship—such as Śiva-liṅga worship—as a valid and powerful means to purify the soul (paśu), loosen bonds (pāśa), and lead toward the knowledge of Pati (Śiva).
For Kali Yuga, the takeaway is regular Śiva pratimā/Śivaliṅga pūjā with devotion—supported by mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple, sincere offerings as one’s capacity allows.