Shloka 117

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

Devanagari script

सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषो रुक्मवर्णस् त्वतीन्द्रियः ब्रह्मा नारायणाख्यस्तु सुष्वाप सलिले तदा

Transliteration

sahasraśīrṣā puruṣo rukmavarṇas tvatīndriyaḥ brahmā nārāyaṇākhyastu suṣvāpa salile tadā

Translation

Dann ruhte jener kosmische Puruṣa mit tausend Häuptern—golden leuchtend und den Sinnen entrückt—Brahmā, auch Nārāyaṇa genannt, im yogischen Schlummer auf den uranfänglichen Wassern. Im śaivischen Verständnis weist dies auf die verhüllende Bindekraft (pāśa) in der prakṛti, während der höchste Pati, Śiva, als transzendenter Grund allen Hervortretens verbleibt.

Word by Word

• सहस्र-शीर्षा: thousand-headed

• पुरुषः: Cosmic Person

• रुक्म-वर्णः: golden in complexion

• तु: indeed/but

• अतीन्द्रियः: beyond the senses

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā (creator-aspect)

• नारायण-आख्यः: named Nārāyaṇa

• तु: indeed

• सुष्वाप: slept, entered deep (yogic) sleep

• सलिले: in the waters (cosmic ocean)

• तदा: then/at that time

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Narayana

FAQs

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

It frames creation as beginning in the unmanifest waters, where even the creator-aspect rests in yoga-nidrā; Linga worship later reveals Śiva as the supreme Pati who awakens and orders sṛṣṭi beyond the limits of the senses.

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

Though Śiva is not named here, the verse highlights atīndriyatva (transcendence of sense and mind) as the hallmark of the supreme; in Shaiva Siddhanta, that absolute transcendence belongs fully to Pati (Śiva), while other cosmic functions operate within māyā and pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Yoga-nidrā (yogic absorption) is implied—an inward withdrawal preceding manifestation; for Pāśupata-oriented practice, it suggests disciplined pratyāhāra and dhyāna leading the pashu (soul) away from sensory bondage (pāśa) toward Pati.