Shloka 6

पीतवासा-कल्पः, माहेश्वरी-दर्शनम्, रौद्री-गायत्री, महायोगेन अपुनर्भवः

Devanagari script

चतुष्पदां चतुर्वक्त्रां चतुर्हस्तां चतुःस्तनीम् चतुर्नेत्रां चतुःशृङ्गीं चतुर्दंष्ट्रां चतुर्मुखीम्

Transliteration

catuṣpadāṃ caturvaktrāṃ caturhastāṃ catuḥstanīm caturnetrāṃ catuḥśṛṅgīṃ caturdaṃṣṭrāṃ caturmukhīm

Translation

他又见一奇异而令人敬畏之相：四足、四面、四臂、四乳；四眼、四角、四牙——此乃主之不可思议威力的化现。凭此，主宰（Pati，湿婆）统御显现之秩序，而自身恒超越一切系缚（pāśa）。

Word by Word

• चतुष्पदाम् (catuṣpadām): four-footed

• चतुर्वक्त्राम् (caturvaktrām): four-faced / having four mouths

• चतुर्हस्ताम् (caturhastām): four-armed

• चतुःस्तनीम् (catuḥstanīm): four-breasted

• चतुर्नेत्राम् (caturnetrām): four-eyed

• चतुःशृङ्गीम् (catuḥśṛṅgīm): four-horned

• चतुर्दंष्ट्राम् (caturdaṃṣṭrām): four-tusked / four-fanged

• चतुर्मुखीम् (caturmukhīm): four-faced (reiterated as a marked epithet)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes that the Supreme (Pati) can be approached through manifold, symbol-laden manifestations; Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize the One Lord behind diverse forms and attributes.

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

By listing extraordinary, multi-aspected features, the verse points to Shiva’s śakti-driven sovereignty: He is not confined to a single finite shape, but reveals forms that signify cosmic functions while remaining transcendent.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative upāsanā (dhyāna) approach is implied—meditating on Shiva’s symbolic attributes to loosen pāśa (bondage) and reorient the paśu (soul) toward Pati, aligning with Pāśupata-oriented devotion.