ज्येष्ठं भूतं वदन्त्य् एनं ब्राह्मणा मुनयस् तथा ॥
प्रथमो ह्य् एष देवानां मुखाद् अस्यानलो ऽभवत् ॥
सर्वथा यत् पशून् पाति तैश् च यद् रमते पुनः ॥
तेषाम् अधिपतिर् यच् च तस्मात् पशुपतिः स्मृतः ॥
नित्येन ब्रह्मचर्येण लिङ्गम् अस्य यदा स्थितम् ॥
महयन्ति च लोकाश् च महेश्वर इति स्मृतः ॥
jyeṣṭhaṃ bhūtaṃ vadanty enaṃ brāhmaṇā munayas tathā ||
prathamo hy eṣa devānāṃ mukhād asyānalo 'bhavat ||
sarvathā yat paśūn pāti taiś ca yad ramate punaḥ ||
teṣām adhipatir yac ca tasmāt paśupatiḥ smṛtaḥ ||
nityena brahmacaryeṇa liṅgam asya yadā sthitam ||
mahayanti ca lokāś ca maheśvara iti smṛtaḥ ||
"The eldest being brahmins and sages call him; for he is first among the gods -- from his mouth fire [Agni] arose. Since he always protects creatures [pashu] and delights in them again, and since he is their lord, therefore he is called Pashupati. By eternal brahmacharya his linga stands erect, and the worlds honor him -- [therefore] he is called Maheshvara."
d65370875a95 · published Jul 19, 2026, 5:12:46 PM UTC
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The name 'Pashupati' is explained: he protects creatures, delights in them, and rules them -- shepherd of all that lives. It is significant that the linga is interpreted through 'eternal brahmacharya': the erect linga signifies not passion but the concentration of ascetic power. The verse teaches that the venerated sign is a symbol of restrained, self-gathered creative might; and the One who is shepherd of all beings is honored as lord, in whom power is united with perfect self-mastery.