Shloka 61

युगधर्मवर्णनम् — चतुर्युग, गुण, धर्मपाद, तथा वार्तोत्पत्ति

Devanagari script

इतिहासपुराणानि भिद्यन्ते कालगौरवात् ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च शैवं भागवतं तथा

Transliteration

itihāsapurāṇāni bhidyante kālagauravāt brāhmaṃ pādmaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ ca śaivaṃ bhāgavataṃ tathā

Translation

诸《伊提哈萨》（史诗）与《往世书》依“时”（Kāla）之分量与权威而有差别：故有《梵》（Brāhma）、《莲华》（Pādma）、《毗湿奴》（Vaiṣṇava）、《湿婆》（Śaiva）以及《薄伽梵》（Bhāgavata）等名。

Word by Word

• इतिहास-पुराणानि: the Itihāsas and Purāṇas

• भिद्यन्ते: are differentiated/classified

• काल-गौरवात्: due to the gravity/authority of Time (Kāla)

• ब्राह्मम्: the Brāhma (Purāṇa)

• पाद्मम्: the Pādma (Purāṇa)

• वैष्णवम्: the Vaiṣṇava (Purāṇa)

• च: and

• शैवम्: the Śaiva (Purāṇa)

• भागवतम्: the Bhāgavata (Purāṇa)

• तथा: likewise/also

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Kāla (Time)
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes scriptural taxonomy and authority—affirming that the Śaiva Purāṇa stream (including the Liṅga Purāṇa) is a valid, time-sanctioned vehicle for teaching Śiva as Pati and for grounding Liṅga-upāsanā in recognized Purāṇic tradition.

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

Indirectly, by placing “Śaiva” among the authoritative Purāṇas distinguished by Kāla, it supports Śiva-tattva as a timeless (Kāla-transcending yet Kāla-governing) principle—Pati whose doctrine is preserved through legitimate revelation in time.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific pūjā-vidhi or Pāśupata-yoga technique is stated; the verse functions as a doctrinal preface that legitimizes later teachings on Liṅga-pūjā, dāna, and Pāśupata discipline within the Śaiva Purāṇic corpus.