Shloka 83

Adhyāya 25 — Liṅga-māhātmya (The Chapter on the Liṅga): Hari’s Śiva-Worship and the Fiery Pillar Theophany

Devanagari script

आदिमध्यान्तहीनाय स्वबावामलदीप्तये / नमः शिवाय शान्ताय ब्रह्मणे लिङ्गमूर्तये

Transliteration

ādimadhyāntahīnāya svabāvāmaladīptaye / namaḥ śivāya śāntāya brahmaṇe liṅgamūrtaye

Translation

Verehrung Śiva, ohne Anfang, Mitte und Ende; dessen eigenes Wesen in makellosem Glanz erstrahlt; Verehrung dem Friedvollen, dem Brahman selbst, dessen Form der Liṅga ist.

Word by Word

• आदि-मध्य-अन्त-हीनाय: to the one without beginning, middle, or end
• आदि-मध्य-अन्त-हीनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः द्वन्द्व-समाहार/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः—आदि-मध्य-अन्तैः हीनः (निर्विशेषणः)

• स्वभाव-अमल-दीप्तये: to the one whose natural radiance is pure
• स्वभाव-अमल-दीप्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + अमल (प्रातिपदिक) + दीप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः—स्वभावेन अमला या दीप्तिः (स्वाभाविकी निर्मला दीप्तिः)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana/भाव (भावार्थक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात)

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• शान्ताय: to the peaceful one
• शान्ताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्मणे: to Brahman
• ब्रह्मणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• लिङ्ग-मूर्तये: to the liṅga-formed one
• लिङ्ग-मूर्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator/reciter within the Purāṇic discourse (Śiva-stuti section; traditionally framed through the sage-narration stream, ultimately aligned with the Kurma Purana’s doctrinal voice).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahman
• Linga

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By calling Śiva “without beginning, middle, or end” and “Brahman,” the verse points to the Absolute as timeless, partless, and identical with the highest reality—beyond change—while also being knowable through contemplative recognition of its pure luminosity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports meditative upāsanā on the Liṅga as a focus for realizing the formless Brahman—cultivating śānti (inner tranquility) and contemplation on the pure, self-luminous nature (amala-dīpti) of the Supreme.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By identifying Śiva with Brahman and presenting a universal, non-sectarian absolute, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the Supreme is one reality expressed through revered forms—supporting Shaiva-Vaishnava unity at the level of Brahman.