Shloka 21

ईशानकल्पवृत्तान्तः तथा लैङ्गपुराणस्य संक्षेप-सूची

Devanagari script

संध्यांशकप्रमाणं च संध्यावृत्तं भवस्य च श्मशाननिलयश्चैव चन्द्ररेखासमुद्भवः

Transliteration

saṃdhyāṃśakapramāṇaṃ ca saṃdhyāvṛttaṃ bhavasya ca śmaśānanilayaścaiva candrarekhāsamudbhavaḥ

Translation

هو (بهافا Bhava، أي السيّد شيفا) يُقاس بـ«جزء الشفق» اللطيف، بما يتجاوز الحساب المألوف؛ وسيرته هي حالة الشفق ذاتها. يقيم في أرض الحرق (موضع الجثث)، ومنه ينبثق وسم الهلال.

Word by Word

• saṃdhyā-aṃśaka: a small portion/measure of twilight

• pramāṇam: measure, standard

• ca: and

• saṃdhyā-vṛttam: having the conduct/state of twilight (liminality)

• bhavasya: of Bhava (Śiva)

• śmaśāna-nilayaḥ: dweller in the cremation-ground

• ca eva: and indeed

• candra-rekhā: the crescent line of the moon

• samudbhavaḥ: arising/originating, source

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Śiva’s characteristics to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva as beyond ordinary measurement (pramāṇa) and as the Lord of liminal states; this supports Linga worship as contemplation of Pati who transcends time, death, and all boundaries symbolized by twilight and the cremation-ground.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as boundary-transcending: present in the ‘twilight’ between opposites and sovereign even over death (śmaśāna). As Pati, He is not confined by worldly standards, yet He bears the crescent as a compassionate, accessible mark for devotion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Meditation at saṃdhyā (dawn/dusk) is implied: a Pāśupata-leaning contemplative practice where the sādhaka focuses on Śiva as the Lord of transitions, using twilight-japa/dhyāna and remembrance of death (śmaśāna-bhāvanā) to cut pasha (bondage).