Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

मकाराख्यो विभुर्बीजी ह्य् अकारो बीजमुच्यते उकाराख्यो हरिर्योनिः प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः

Transliteration

makārākhyo vibhurbījī hy akāro bījamucyate ukārākhyo hariryoniḥ pradhānapuruṣeśvaraḥ

Translation

«Ma» هو الربّ الشامل، مبدأُ حاملِ البذرة؛ و«A» تُعلَن أنها البذرةُ نفسها. و«U» هو هَري بوصفه اليوني (الرحم/المَحْضَن)، ربُّ البرادهانا (الطبيعة الأولى) والبوروشا (الروح الواعية).

Word by Word

• मकाराख्यः (makārākhyaḥ): denoted by the syllable ‘ma’

• विभुः (vibhuḥ): the all-pervading Lord

• बीजी (bījī): seed-bearing/source of potency

• हि (hi): indeed

• अकारः (akāraḥ): the syllable ‘a’

• बीजम् (bījam): seed/cause

• उच्यते (ucyate): is said/declared

• उकाराख्यः (ukārākhyaḥ): denoted by the syllable ‘u’

• हरिः (hariḥ): Hari (Viṣṇu, the sustaining power)

• योनिः (yoniḥ): womb/source/matrix

• प्रधान (pradhāna): primal material nature

• पुरुष (puruṣa): conscious being/soul

• ईश्वरः (īśvaraḥ): Lord, sovereign.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the doctrine embedded in the Linga’s syllabic symbolism)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu (Hari)
• Pradhana
• Purusha

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-upāsanā as mantra-artha contemplation: the Linga is approached through syllabic principles—seed (bīja), seed-bearer, and womb/source—revealing how the cosmos arises under the sovereignty of Pati (the Lord).

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

Shiva is indicated as Vibhu, the all-pervading seed-bearing Lord—transcendent and causal—who stands as the ultimate Īśvara beyond the play of Pradhāna (matter) and Puruṣa (the bound soul), even when these are discussed through sustaining powers like Hari.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-yoga centered on the Linga: meditating on bīja and yoni meanings of sacred syllables to dissolve pasha (bondage) in the pashu (soul) and orient awareness toward Pati (Shiva) as the supreme cause.