Shloka 14

Adhyaya 34: भस्ममहात्म्यं—अग्नीषोमात्मक-शिवतत्त्वं तथा पाशुपतव्रतप्रशंसा

Devanagari script

इन्द्रियैरजितैर्नग्नो दुकूलेनापि संवृतः तैरेव संवृतैर्गुप्तो न वस्त्रं कारणं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

indriyairajitairnagno dukūlenāpi saṃvṛtaḥ taireva saṃvṛtairgupto na vastraṃ kāraṇaṃ smṛtam

Translation

Kẻ chưa chế ngự được các căn (giác quan) thì thật sự là “trần truồng”, dù có khoác gấm vóc. Còn người được chính các căn ấy nhiếp phục và giữ gìn thì được che chở vững vàng; y phục không phải là nguyên nhân chân thật của sự đoan nghiêm và thanh tịnh.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रियैः (indriyaiḥ): by the senses

• अजितैः (ajitaiḥ): unconquered, unmastered

• नग्नः (nagnaḥ): naked (spiritually exposed)

• दुकूलेन (dukūlena): with fine cloth, silk garment

• अपि (api): even

• संवृतः (saṃvṛtaḥ): covered

• तैः एव (taiḥ eva): by those very (senses) alone

• संवृतैः (saṃvṛtaiḥ): restrained, held in check

• गुप्तः (guptaḥ): guarded, protected

• न (na): not

• वस्त्रं (vastram): clothing

• कारणं (kāraṇam): cause, true basis

• स्मृतम् (smṛtam): is declared/remembered (by tradition).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shaiva teaching on indriya-nigraha within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shifts the emphasis from external observance to inner discipline: in Linga-puja, true adhikara (fitness) arises from indriya-nigraha, because the “covering” that protects the worshipper is mastery over the senses, not mere outward appearance.

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

It implies Shiva as Pati—the inner Lord who is approached through purification of the antahkarana. When the pashu (soul) withdraws from pasha (sense-bondage), Shiva-tattva becomes experientially near, beyond external markers.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Indriya-saṃyama (restraint of the senses), a core limb of Shaiva yoga and Pashupata discipline; it supports mantra-japa and Linga-archana by reducing vikṣepa (distraction) and strengthening one-pointed devotion to Mahadeva.