Shloka 76

एकार्णव-सृष्टिक्रमः, ब्रह्म-विष्णु-परस्परप्रवेशः, शिवस्य आगमनं च

Devanagari script

अस्मान्महत्तरं भूतं गुह्यमन्यन्न विद्यते महतः परमं धाम शिवम् अध्यात्मिनां पदम्

Transliteration

asmānmahattaraṃ bhūtaṃ guhyamanyanna vidyate mahataḥ paramaṃ dhāma śivam adhyātmināṃ padam

Translation

أعظمُ من هذا المبدأ الظاهر لا توجدُ حقيقةٌ سرّيةٌ أخرى. وفوقَ المَهَت (mahat) تقومُ الدارُ العليا—شِڤا—وهو الغايةُ الباطنةُ لأهلِ معرفةِ الآتمان.

Word by Word

• asmāt: than this/from this

• mahattaram: greater, higher

• bhūtam: being, principle, reality

• guhyam: secret, esoteric

• anyat: other

• na: not

• vidyate: is found/exists

• mahataḥ: beyond the mahat (cosmic intellect/primordial principle)

• paramam: supreme

• dhāma: abode, state, light

• śivam: Śiva/the auspicious Supreme (Pati)

• adhyātminām: of the spiritually inward/ātma-knowers

• padam: goal, station, highest step

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva as the highest, most secret Reality beyond cosmic principles like mahat; thus Linga-worship is not merely ritual, but a means to realize Pati (Śiva) as the supreme Abode.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as transcendent—beyond mahat (cosmic intellect) and deeper than any “hidden” principle—yet attainable as the adhyātmic padam, the inner goal for Self-knowers.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes adhyātma-oriented realization: inward Pāśupata-style discipline (turning from tattvas to the indwelling Pati) rather than externalism alone, with worship serving as support for inner ascent.