Shloka 4

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

प्रसादस्य स्वरूपं यत् स्वसंवेद्यं द्विजोत्तमाः वक्तुं न शक्यं ब्रह्माद्यैः क्रमशो जायते नृणाम्

Transliteration

prasādasya svarūpaṃ yat svasaṃvedyaṃ dvijottamāḥ vaktuṃ na śakyaṃ brahmādyaiḥ kramaśo jāyate nṛṇām

Translation

يا خيرَ ذوي الولادتين، إن حقيقة «البْرَسادا»—نعمة شيفا الإلهية—لا تُعرَف إلا بالتحقّق الباطني المباشر؛ وحتى براهما وسائر الآلهة لا يقدرون أن يصفوها وصفًا تامًّا بالكلمات. وفي البشر تنشأ تدريجيًّا، مرحلةً بعد مرحلة.

Word by Word

• prasādasya: of grace (prasāda)

• svarūpam: essential nature, true form

• yat: which

• svasaṁvedyam: to be known by one’s own direct inner awareness

• dvijottamāḥ: O best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)

• vaktum: to speak, to describe

• na śakyam: not possible

• brahmādyaiḥ: by Brahmā and the others (deities)

• kramaśaḥ: gradually, in sequence

• jāyate: arises, is born

• nṛṇām: in/for human beings

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as a grace-centered path: the fruit is not merely ritual merit but Śiva’s prasāda, which matures progressively in the pashu (individual soul) through steady devotion, purity, and worship.

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

By stating that prasāda is svasaṁvedya and indescribable even to Brahmā, it implies Śiva-tattva is ultimately beyond conceptual speech and is realized inwardly—Pati revealing Himself through anugraha rather than being captured by intellect alone.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights gradual ripening—kramaśaḥ—pointing to sustained sādhana such as Pāśupata-oriented discipline: regular Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, inner purification, and meditative absorption until grace becomes directly experienced.