Shloka 20

Adhyaya 17: लिङ्गोद्भव—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वहङ्कार-शमनं, ओंकार-प्रादुर्भावः, मन्त्र-तत्त्वं च

Devanagari script

माम् इहान्तःस्मितं कृत्वा गुरुः शिष्यमिवानघ कर्तारं जगतां साक्षात् प्रकृतेश् च प्रवर्तकम्

Transliteration

mām ihāntaḥsmitaṃ kṛtvā guruḥ śiṣyamivānagha kartāraṃ jagatāṃ sākṣāt prakṛteś ca pravartakam

Translation

O Makelloser, als er mich hier mit einem inneren Lächeln ansah, behandelte mich der Guru wie einen Schüler vor dem Meister—und offenbarte leibhaftig den Schöpfer der Welten, den Pati (Śiva), der Prakṛti in Bewegung setzt.

Word by Word

• mām: me

• iha: here

• antaḥ-smitaṃ kṛtvā: having (made/assumed) an inward smile

• guruḥ: the Guru (the Divine Teacher)

• śiṣyam iva: like a disciple

• anagha: O blameless one

• kartāram: the doer/creator

• jagatām: of the worlds

• sākṣāt: directly, in person

• prakṛteḥ: of Prakṛti (primordial nature)

• ca: and

• pravartakam: the impeller/initiator (who sets in motion)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal episode; the Guru is implied as Shiva as Pati and revealer)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prakriti

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga’s manifestation as a direct revelation of Shiva as the supreme Pati—personally present and knowable—who stands behind creation, making Linga worship a worship of the ultimate source rather than a mere symbol.

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

Shiva is described as sākṣāt (immediately present) and as the kartā of the worlds, specifically the one who pravartaka—initiates and directs—Prakṛti, indicating transcendence over nature while also governing its unfolding.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the Guru–śiṣya dynamic central to Pāśupata transmission: realization of Pati (Shiva) arises through initiatory revelation and inward recognition, which then grounds disciplined worship (pujā) and contemplative practice.