Shloka 3

उपमन्युना कृष्णाय पाशुपतज्ञान-प्रदानम् तथा दानविधि-फलश्रुतिः

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच स्वेच्छया ह्यवतीर्णो ऽपि वासुदेवः सनातनः निन्दयन्नेव मानुष्यं देहशुद्धिं चकार सः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca svecchayā hyavatīrṇo 'pi vāsudevaḥ sanātanaḥ nindayanneva mānuṣyaṃ dehaśuddhiṃ cakāra saḥ

Translation

苏多说道：永恒的瓦苏提婆虽随其自在之愿而降世，却仍呵责人身之局限；并以此离著之立场成就身之净化——显示：有身之生当在主宰（Pati）之摄持下被炼净而趋向解脱。

Word by Word

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• स्वेच्छया: by his own will

• हि: indeed

• अवतीर्णः अपि: even though descended (incarnated)

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva (the indwelling Lord)

• सनातनः: eternal

• निन्दयन् एव: indeed censuring/reproaching

• मानुष्यं: human state/condition

• देह-शुद्धिं: purification of the body

• चकार: performed/caused

• सः: he

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva

FAQs

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

It frames purification (deha-śuddhi) and dispassion toward mere “human” limitations as prerequisites for approaching the Pati through Linga-upāsanā; outer ritual gains power when the embodied pashu is inwardly refined.

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

By emphasizing voluntary descent and eternality, it points to the Lord’s transcendence over embodiment while still guiding bound souls; this mirrors Shiva-tattva as Pati—free, self-willed, and liberating.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Deha-śuddhi supported by vairāgya (censure of attachment to the human condition), a key orientation in Pāśupata discipline before undertaking mantra, puja, and austerity.