Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

सर्वात्मानं महात्मानं महादेवं महेश्वरम् न विजानन्ति संमूढा मायया तस्य मोहिताः

Transliteration

sarvātmānaṃ mahātmānaṃ mahādevaṃ maheśvaram na vijānanti saṃmūḍhā māyayā tasya mohitāḥ

Translation

Von seiner Māyā betört erkennen die völlig Verwirrten Mahādeva—Maheśvara, die Große Seele, das Selbst aller Wesen—nicht: den Pati (Herrn), der jenseits der Fesseln des pāśa steht.

Word by Word

• सर्वात्मानम्: the Self of all

• महात्मानम्: the Great Soul

• महादेवम्: Mahadeva (the Great God)

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (Supreme Lord)

• न: not

• विजानन्ति: they know/recognize

• संमूढाः: thoroughly deluded

• मायया: by Māyā (veiling power)

• तस्य: of Him

• मोहिताः: bewildered/enchanted

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as a discipline of recognition (pratyabhijñā) of Mahadeva as Sarvātman; without piercing Māyā, the pashu (bound soul) fails to perceive the Pati even when the Linga is present as His sign.

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

Shiva is presented as Sarvātman (immanent Self of all) and Maheśvara (transcendent Lord), the Mahātman who remains unknown to the deluded because Māyā veils His true status as Pati beyond pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied practice is Pāśupata-oriented purification and jñāna—using puja, mantra, and yogic discernment (viveka) to remove Māyā’s obscuration so the pashu can know the Pati.