Shloka 100

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

सृजते ग्रसते चैव रक्षते च त्रिभिः स्वयम् आदित्वाद् आदिदेवो ऽसाव् अजातत्वाद् अजः स्मृतः

Transliteration

sṛjate grasate caiva rakṣate ca tribhiḥ svayam āditvād ādidevo 'sāv ajātatvād ajaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Durch seine drei Kräfte erschafft er, zieht wieder ein (reabsorbiert) und schützt. Weil er der uranfängliche Ursprung ist, wird er als Ādi-deva, der erste Gott, erinnert; und weil er ungeboren ist, ist er als Aja, der Ungeborene, bekannt.

Word by Word

• सृजते: creates

• ग्रसते: withdraws/consumes (reabsorbs)

• च एव: and indeed

• रक्षते: protects

• च: and

• त्रिभिः: by the three (powers/functions)

• स्वयम्: by Himself

• आदित्वात्: because of primordiality/being the first

• आदिदेवः: the First Deity

• असौ: that (He)

• अजातत्वात्: because of being unborn

• अजः: the Unborn

• स्मृतः: is remembered/called

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-worship in Shiva’s supremacy as Pati: the Linga signifies the unborn Primordial Lord who alone governs creation, protection, and reabsorption—so worship is directed to the ultimate cause, not a limited deity.

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

Shiva is presented as Ādi-deva (the first, independent principle) and Aja (unborn), indicating transcendence over pasha (bondage) and prakṛti, while still immanently operating the three cosmic functions through His own śakti.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative upāsanā is implied: meditate on the Linga as Aja-Śiva—the unborn Pati—while offering worship that internalizes the three functions (sṛṣṭi-sthiti-saṃhāra) as movements of His śakti, supporting Pāśupata-style detachment from pasha.