Shloka 161

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

Devanagari script

निवृत्तं वर्तमानं च तेषां जानन्ति वै पुनः भूतादिकानां भूतानां सप्तमः सर्ग एव च

Transliteration

nivṛttaṃ vartamānaṃ ca teṣāṃ jānanti vai punaḥ bhūtādikānāṃ bhūtānāṃ saptamaḥ sarga eva ca

Translation

Sie erkennen wiederum sowohl das Zurückgezogene (den eingezogenen Zustand) als auch das gegenwärtig Manifestierte. Wahrlich, dies ist die siebte Schöpfung: die Emanation der Wesen, beginnend mit den Elementen und den elementaren Kategorien.

Word by Word

• nivṛttam: withdrawn/ceased (in dissolution)

• vartamānam: presently manifest/ongoing

• ca: and

• teṣām: of them/they

• jānanti: know/understand

• vai: indeed

• punaḥ: again

• bhūta-ādikānām: of those beginning with the elements

• bhūtānām: of beings/creatures

• saptamaḥ: seventh

• sargaḥ: creation/emanation

• eva: precisely/indeed

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

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

It frames creation and dissolution as knowable states; Linga worship centers the devotee (pashu) in awareness of Pati (Shiva) as the ground of both manifestation (vartamāna) and withdrawal (nivṛtta).

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

By implication, Shiva-tattva is that by which the cycles of appearing and ceasing are understood; Pati is the constant reality through which the changing sargas (emanations) are comprehended.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative tattva-viveka aligned with Pashupata Yoga—discerning the manifest and withdrawn conditions—supporting inner detachment (nivṛtti) while living within the present world (pravṛtti/vartamāna).