Shloka 1

Adhyaya 45: Rudra as Sarvatma—Seven Lokas, Seven Talas, and the Cosmic Body of Shiva

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे नन्दिकेश्वराभिषेको नाम चतुश्चत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः सूत सुव्यक्तमखिलं कथितं शङ्करस्य तु सर्वात्मभावं रुद्रस्य स्वरूपं वक्तुमर्हसि

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge nandikeśvarābhiṣeko nāma catuścatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta suvyaktamakhilaṃ kathitaṃ śaṅkarasya tu sarvātmabhāvaṃ rudrasya svarūpaṃ vaktumarhasi

Translation

Die Weisen sprachen: „O Sūta, du hast alles klar dargelegt. Nun beschreibe, wie es sich ziemt, die wahre Wesensgestalt (svarūpa) Rudras—Śaṅkaras als das in allen wohnende Selbst (sarvātmabhāva).“

Word by Word

• ऋषयः: the sages

• ऊचुः: said

• सूत: O Sūta (Sūta Gosvāmin)

• सुव्यक्तम्: clearly, distinctly

• अखिलम्: all, entirely

• कथितम्: narrated, explained

• शङ्करस्य: of Śaṅkara (Śiva)

• तु: indeed/now

• सर्वात्मभावम्: the state of being the Self of all, all-pervading inner Self

• रुद्रस्य: of Rudra

• स्वरूपम्: essential form, true nature

• वक्तुम्: to speak, to explain

• अर्हसि: you are worthy/you should

Speaker

Sages (Ṛṣis of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Suta Goswami
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-upāsanā as grounded in Shiva-tattva: the Linga is approached as Rudra-Śaṅkara who is sarvātmā (the inner Self of all), not merely as an external icon.

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

It points to Śiva as sarvātmabhāva—Pati who pervades and indwells all beings (pashus) as their inner Self, while remaining Rudra in His own essential svarūpa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tattva-jñāna as the foundation of practice—knowing Rudra’s all-pervading nature, which supports Pāśupata-oriented devotion and meditation rather than detailing a specific rite in this line.