Shloka 59

Adhyaya 17: लिङ्गोद्भव—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वहङ्कार-शमनं, ओंकार-प्रादुर्भावः, मन्त्र-तत्त्वं च

Devanagari script

अप्राप्य तं निवर्तन्ते वाच्यस्त्वेकाक्षरेण सः एकाक्षरेण तद्वाच्यम् ऋतं परमकारणम्

Transliteration

aprāpya taṃ nivartante vācyastvekākṣareṇa saḥ ekākṣareṇa tadvācyam ṛtaṃ paramakāraṇam

Translation

إذ تعجز الكلمات عن بلوغه ترجع من حيث أتت. ومع ذلك يُشار إليه بمقطعٍ واحد؛ وبهذا المقطع الواحد يُدلّ عليه—إنه رِتا (Ṛta)، العِلّةُ العليا.

Word by Word

• aprāpya: not attaining

• tam: Him (the Supreme)

• nivartante: return/withdraw

• vācaḥ: words/speech

• tu: however/indeed

• vācyas: to be denoted/indicated

• ekākṣareṇa: by a single syllable

• saḥ: He

• tad-vācyam: that which is denoted by it

• ṛtam: Ṛta (cosmic truth/order)

• parama-kāraṇam: the highest cause

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya; describing the transcendent Shiva-tattva revealed as the Linga)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga as the sign (liṅga) of the inexpressible Pati: while Shiva transcends speech and conceptual reach, He is approached in worship through a minimal, potent indicator—ekākṣara—supporting mantra-based Linga-puja.

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

Shiva is portrayed as beyond verbalization (where words withdraw) yet as the paramakāraṇa, the ultimate ground of Ṛta—cosmic order and truth—indicating the transcendent, self-established Pati who governs pasha and uplifts pashu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Japa and contemplative absorption on the ekākṣara (commonly understood as the Pranava/seed-indicator of Shiva) as a Pashupata-oriented method: restraining speech and mind and fixing awareness on the single-syllable sign of the Supreme.