Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

कनकाभे तथागारसंनिभे सुसिते ऽपि वा द्वादशादित्यसंकाशे चन्द्रबिम्बसमे ऽपि वा

Transliteration

kanakābhe tathāgārasaṃnibhe susite 'pi vā dvādaśādityasaṃkāśe candrabimbasame 'pi vā

Translation

قد يكون ذا لونٍ ذهبي، أو كقصرٍ من البلّور المتلألئ؛ وقد يكون أبيضَ ناصعًا؛ وقد يتوهّج كلمعان اثني عشر شمسًا؛ أو يكون ساكنًا باردًا كقرص القمر.

Word by Word

• kanakābhe: golden-hued

• tathā: likewise/also

• āgāra-saṃnibhe: resembling a (radiant) house/palace (i.e., crystal-like splendor)

• su-site: very white, spotless

• api: even/also

• vā: or

• dvādaśa-āditya-saṃkāśe: having the radiance of twelve suns

• candra-bimba-same: equal to the moon’s disk

• api vā: or else/alternatively

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; describing accepted Linga forms/appearances)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It legitimizes multiple auspicious visual forms of the Linga—golden, crystal-like, white, solar-brilliant, or moon-calm—showing that Linga-puja is not restricted to a single material or appearance, but to devotion toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Shiva-tattva is indicated as both tejas (solar brilliance) and saumya (lunar serenity): the Linga can appear as intense light or tranquil purity, pointing to the Lord who transcends and yet pervades all qualities while liberating the pashu from pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It supports dhyāna in Linga-puja: the practitioner may visualize the Linga as blazing like many suns or calm like the moon, using that chosen form as an aid for one-pointed Pashupata-style contemplation of Shiva as Pati.