Shloka 35

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

लयश्चैव तथान्योन्यम् आन्द्यन्तम् इति कीर्तितम् सर्गस्य प्रतिसर्गस्य स्थितेः कर्ता महेश्वरः

Transliteration

layaścaiva tathānyonyam āndyantam iti kīrtitam sargasya pratisargasya sthiteḥ kartā maheśvaraḥ

Translation

লয়, পৰস্পৰ আশ্ৰয়, আৰু আদি-অন্ত—এনেদৰে কীৰ্তিত। সৰ্গ, প্ৰতিসৰ্গ আৰু স্থিতিৰ কৰ্তা মহেশ্বৰেই।

Word by Word

• लयः (layaḥ): dissolution/withdrawal

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• अन्योन्यम् (anyonyam): mutuality/interdependence

• आन्द्यन्तम् (āndyantam): beginning and end (ādi–anta)

• इति (iti): thus

• कीर्तितम् (kīrtitam): proclaimed/declared

• सर्गस्य (sargasya): of creation

• प्रतिसर्गस्य (pratisargasya): of secondary creation/re-creation

• स्थितेः (sthiteḥ): of sustenance/maintenance

• कर्ता (kartā): doer/agent

• महेश्वरः (maheśvaraḥ): Maheshvara (Śiva as the Supreme Lord)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara

FAQs

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

It establishes Maheshvara as the supreme agent behind creation, re-creation, and sustenance; therefore Linga worship is directed to the transcendent Pati who governs all cosmic functions, not merely a localized deity.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as sovereign agency (kartṛtva): Maheshvara presides over sarga, pratisarga, and sthiti, while also encompassing laya and the polarity of beginning-and-end—showing Him as the ground of all cycles and their resolution.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points more to tattva-jñāna than a specific rite: in Pashupata-oriented practice, contemplation of Shiva as Pati over sṛṣṭi–sthiti–laya supports detachment from pasha (bondage) and steadies meditation on the Linga as the cosmic axis.