Shloka 72

देवादिसृष्टिकथनम् (वसिष्ठशोकः, पराशरजन्म, एकलिङ्गपूजा, रुद्रदर्शनम्)

Devanagari script

स्थाने पौत्र मुनिश्रेष्ठ संकल्पस्तव सुव्रत तथापि शृणु लोकस्य क्षयं कर्तुं न चार्हसि

Transliteration

sthāne pautra muniśreṣṭha saṃkalpastava suvrata tathāpi śṛṇu lokasya kṣayaṃ kartuṃ na cārhasi

Translation

“外孙啊，最胜牟尼，你的誓愿与决心确实相称，持善戒者啊。然而且听：你不应令诸世界走向毁灭；所谓saṃhāra（消融、归寂）唯属Pati——主湿婆一人。”

Word by Word

• स्थाने: rightly, fittingly

• पौत्र: O grandson

• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: best among sages

• संकल्पः: resolve, intention

• तव: your

• सुव्रत: O one of good vows

• तथापि: nevertheless, even so

• शृणु: listen

• लोकस्य: of the worlds/people

• क्षयम्: destruction, ruin

• कर्तुम्: to do, to bring about

• न: not

• च: and/indeed

• अर्हसि: you are fit/ought (to do).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal counsel within the Purva-Bhaga narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It reinforces that cosmic functions like saṃhāra belong to Pati (Śiva). Linga worship trains the devotee (Pashu) in humility and dharmic restraint rather than assuming divine prerogatives.

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

By implying that the destruction of worlds is not for an individual to enact, it points to Śiva-tattva as the supreme governing reality who alone authorizes and performs saṃhāra, while souls act within ordained dharma.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vrata (disciplined vow) and self-restraint—key Pashupata dispositions—are emphasized: even with strong saṅkalpa, the yogin must curb destructive impulses and align will with Śiva’s cosmic order.