Shloka 21

Devanagari script

तस्माच्च रूपमात्रं तु ततो ऽग्निश्च रसस्ततः रसादापः शुभास्ताभ्यो गन्धमात्रं धरा ततः

Transliteration

tasmācca rūpamātraṃ tu tato 'gniśca rasastataḥ rasādāpaḥ śubhāstābhyo gandhamātraṃ dharā tataḥ

Translation

من ذلك المبدأ اللطيف تنشأ الصورة وحدها (rūpa-tanmātra)؛ ومنها يتولد أغني، النار، ومن النار ينشأ الطعم (rasa-tanmātra). ومن الطعم تنبثق المياه المباركة؛ ومن تلك المياه تنشأ الرائحة وحدها (gandha-tanmātra)، ثم بعد ذلك تتكوّن الأرض. هكذا يمضي العالم الظاهر بأمر شيفا، بوصفه الباتي (Pati) الذي يكشف العناصر لتجربة الباشو (paśu) المقيَّد.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that (prior subtle principle)

• च: and

• रूपमात्रम्: only form/visibility (rūpa-tanmātra)

• तु: indeed

• ततः: from that

• अग्निः: fire (tejas-bhūta)

• च: and

• रसः: taste/sap (rasa-tanmātra)

• ततः: from that

• रसात्: from taste

• आपः: waters

• शुभाः: auspicious/pure

• ताभ्यः: from those (waters)

• गन्धमात्रम्: only fragrance (gandha-tanmātra)

• धरा: earth (pṛthivī)

• ततः: thereafter/from that.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmological teaching as part of the Purva-Bhaga account)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni
• Apah (Waters)
• Dhara (Earth)

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as a graded manifestation from subtle qualities (tanmātras) to gross elements, encouraging the devotee to see the Linga as the transcendent Pati behind all form, fire, water, and earth—supporting inward, elemental purification (bhūta-śuddhi) during worship.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as the governing Lord (Pati) whose power orders the sequence of manifestation; the elements are not independent realities but unfold for the experience and eventual liberation of the pashu from pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It supports contemplative practice on the elements and their subtle causes—used in Shaiva sadhana as bhūta-śuddhi and sense-withdrawal (pratyāhāra), integrating the worshipper’s body and senses into Linga-centered awareness.