Shloka 74

Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः

Devanagari script

शास्त्रं च शास्ता सर्वेषाम् अकरोत्कामरूपधृक् सर्वसंमोहनं मायी दृष्टप्रत्ययसंयुतम्

Transliteration

śāstraṃ ca śāstā sarveṣām akarotkāmarūpadhṛk sarvasaṃmohanaṃ māyī dṛṣṭapratyayasaṃyutam

Translation

主随意取形，作为一切众生之师，撰成圣教（śāstra）：此为由摩耶所作、奇妙而迷惑万有的启示，却又具足以现量（直接知觉）及既立诸量（正当认知手段）所证成的凭据。

Word by Word

• शास्त्रम्: sacred doctrine/scripture

• च: and

• शास्ता: the ruler/teacher (Pati, Lord Shiva)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all beings

• अकरोत्: made/composed/established

• कामरूपधृक्: one who assumes forms at will

• सर्वसंमोहनम्: that which deludes/bewilders all (veiling power)

• मायी: the wielder of Māyā

• दृष्ट: seen/directly perceived

• प्रत्यय: cognition/valid knowledge

• संयुतम्: endowed with/connected to

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages; internal referent is Shiva as Śāstā)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Śāstā—the ultimate authority who establishes śāstra—implying that Linga-pūjā and its vidhi are not mere custom but divinely instituted means for the paśu to approach Pati through regulated practice and right knowledge.

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

Shiva is shown as both transcendent teacher and Māyin: he can assume any form (kāmarūpadhṛk) and employ Māyā to veil, yet he also grounds revelation in pramāṇa—valid cognition such as perception—so that bondage (pāśa) can be recognized and ultimately transcended.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights śāstra-based sādhanā: disciplined observance (vidhi) and pramāṇa-guided inquiry, foundational to Pāśupata-oriented practice where right doctrine and lived verification support purification and liberation.