Shloka 28

अविद्या-पञ्चक, नवसर्ग-क्रमः, प्रजापति-प्रसवः

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 5

Devanagari script

अर्धनारीश्वरं दृष्ट्वा सर्गादौ कनकाण्डजः विभजस्वेति चाहादौ यदा जाता तदाभवत्

Transliteration

ardhanārīśvaraṃ dṛṣṭvā sargādau kanakāṇḍajaḥ vibhajasveti cāhādau yadā jātā tadābhavat

Translation

في فجر الخلق أبصر براهما (Brahmā) المولودَ من الذهب أَرْدْهَنَارِيشْفَرَ (Ardhanārīśvara)، الربَّ الذي هو نصفُه امرأة. وفي البدء قال: «انقسمْ بذاتك!»؛ ففي تلك اللحظة تجلّت شاكتي (Śakti)، وتقرّر التمييز واستقرّ.

Word by Word

• अर्धनारीश्वरम्: Ardhanārīśvara (Śiva united with Śakti as half-female)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen

• सर्गादौ: at the beginning of creation

• कनकाण्डजः: the golden-egg-born (Brahmā, born from the Hiraṇyāṇḍa)

• विभजस्व: ‘divide (Yourself)!’

• इति: thus

• च: and

• आह: said

• आदौ: in the beginning

• यदा: when/at the moment when

• जाता: was born/manifested

• तदा: then

• अभवत्: it came to be/occurred

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the early creation account; internal reference to Brahma’s act)

Characters & Entities

• Ardhanarishvara
• Shiva
• Shakti
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga theology in the primordial unity of Pati (Śiva) and Śakti: the Linga is not merely a symbol but the creative axis where Śiva’s consciousness and Śakti’s power become manifest for sṛṣṭi (creation) and for the liberation of paśus (souls).

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as intrinsically united with Śakti (Ardhanārīśvara). The ‘division’ is a functional manifestation for creation, not a real split in the Supreme—affirming Śiva as Pati, beyond change, while Śakti unfolds the cosmos.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to a contemplative key used in Śaiva sādhanā: meditating on Ardhanārīśvara to realize non-duality of consciousness and power—an inner basis for Pāśupata Yoga and for worship that sees the Linga as Śiva-Śakti inseparably present.