Shloka 36

Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya

Devanagari script

मद्भक्तो भव विप्रर्षे मामेवार्चय सर्वदा ददामि सर्वं भद्रं ते त्यज रुद्रं च निर्गुणम्

Transliteration

madbhakto bhava viprarṣe māmevārcaya sarvadā dadāmi sarvaṃ bhadraṃ te tyaja rudraṃ ca nirguṇam

Translation

“婆罗门中最胜者啊，成为我的奉爱者；恒常唯独礼拜我。我将赐你一切吉祥。莫执鲁陀罗仅为无相无德（nirguṇa）；当敬奉他为至上之主宰（Pati）——超越而又以慈恩可受供奉。”

Word by Word

• मत्-भक्तः (mad-bhaktaḥ): My devotee

• भव (bhava): become

• विप्रर्षे (viprarṣe): O best among Brahmins

• माम् एव (mām eva): Me alone

• अर्चय (arcaya): worship

• सर्वदा (sarvadā): always

• ददामि (dadāmi): I give/I grant

• सर्वम् (sarvam): all

• भद्रम् (bhadram): auspicious good, welfare

• ते (te): to you/for you

• त्यज (tyaja): abandon, renounce

• रुद्रम् (rudram): Rudra (Shiva)

• च (ca): and

• निर्गुणम् (nirguṇam): as nirguṇa/without qualities (as a limiting conception)

Speaker

Shiva (Rudra), within Suta’s narration to the sages of Naimisharanya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It commands continuous, exclusive worship—“worship Me alone always”—which supports the Linga as the accessible form of Pati (Shiva) through which the pashu (soul) receives bhadra (auspicious welfare) and grace.

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

Shiva is affirmed as transcendent beyond qualities (nirguṇa), yet the verse warns against reducing Him to an abstract, unreachable absolute; He remains the gracious Lord who can be personally worshipped and who bestows auspicious results.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Sarvadā-arcana—daily, continual worship (pujā/arcana) as a core Pashupata-oriented discipline, cultivating exclusive devotion that weakens pasha (bondage) and aligns the pashu with the Pati’s grace.