Shloka 54

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

तदचक्षुस्तदश्रोत्रं तदपाणि अपादकम् तदजातमभूतं च तदशब्दं द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

tadacakṣustadaśrotraṃ tadapāṇi apādakam tadajātamabhūtaṃ ca tadaśabdaṃ dvijottamāḥ

Translation

يا أفضلَ ذوي الولادتين، إنَّ ذلك—البَتِي الأعلى، شِيفا—لا عينَ له ولا أذن؛ ولا يدَ له ولا قدم؛ غيرُ مولودٍ وليس ثمرةَ التكوّن؛ وهو فوقَ الصوت، متعالٍ عن كلِّ علامات الحواسّ.

Word by Word

• tat: That (Supreme Reality/Śiva as Pati)

• acakṣuḥ: without eyes

• aśrotram: without ears

• apāṇi: without hands

• apādakam: without feet

• ajātam: unborn

• abhūtam: not become/uncaused (not an effect)

• ca: and

• aśabdam: beyond sound/wordless

• dvijottamāḥ: O best among the twice-born (brahmins/sages)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes that the Liṅga points to Śiva as nirguṇa—beyond sense-organs and material attributes—so worship is directed to the Supreme Pati, not merely to a physical form.

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

Śiva is described apophatically: not limited by eyes, ears, hands, feet, birth, or sound—indicating the unconditioned, unborn Lord (Pati) who transcends pasha-bound sensory cognition of the paśu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It supports Pāśupata-style contemplation (dhyāna) on the formless Lord—silencing sensory grasping and resting awareness in the wordless (aśabda) reality signified by the Liṅga.