Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

ईश्वरस्तु परो देवो विष्णुश् च महतः परः ब्रह्मा च रजसा युक्तः सर्गादौ हि प्रवर्तते

Transliteration

īśvarastu paro devo viṣṇuś ca mahataḥ paraḥ brahmā ca rajasā yuktaḥ sargādau hi pravartate

Translation

Īśvara ist der höchste Deva; und Viṣṇu ist jenseits des Mahat (kosmischer Intellekt). Brahmā, mit Rajas verbunden, schreitet wahrlich zu Beginn der Schöpfung voran, um den Vorgang der Emanation in Gang zu setzen.

Word by Word

• īśvaraḥ: Īśvara (the Lord, Pati)

• tu: indeed

• paraḥ: supreme/transcendent

• devaḥ: deity/lord

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu (all-pervader)

• ca: and

• mahataḥ: from/beyond Mahat-tattva (cosmic intellect)

• paraḥ: higher than/transcending

• brahmā: Brahmā (creator)

• ca: and

• rajasā: with rajas (the activating guṇa)

• yuktaḥ: joined/endowed

• sarga-ādau: at the beginning of creation

• hi: surely/indeed

• pravartate: begins/sets in motion/engages

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Linga Purana’s cosmology to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (Shiva)
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Mahat-tattva
• Rajas (guna)

FAQs

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

It establishes Īśvara (Shiva) as the supreme Pati behind all cosmic functions; Linga worship centers on this transcendent Lord who empowers the creator (Brahmā) and sustainer (Viṣṇu).

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

Shiva is presented as Īśvara, the para-deva—supreme and causally prior to the manifesting principles; as Pati, he stands beyond the guṇas while directing their operation through his śakti.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi is stated, but the doctrinal takeaway supports Pāśupata orientation: meditate on Pati (Īśvara) as transcendent to tattvas and guṇas, the giver of mokṣa to the pashu bound by pasha.