Shloka 71

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

यत्प्रमाणगुहा प्रज्ञा मनस्तु मनुते यतः बृहत्त्वाद् बृंहणत्वाच्च ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदांवराः

Transliteration

yatpramāṇaguhā prajñā manastu manute yataḥ bṛhattvād bṛṃhaṇatvācca brahmā brahmavidāṃvarāḥ

Translation

Die Weisen, die Ersten unter den Kennern Brahmans, nennen Ihn „Brahmā“, weil in Ihm das verborgene Maß (pramāṇa) aller Erkenntnis ruht, weil der Geist nur auf seinem Grund zu denken vermag, und weil Er weit ist (bṛhat) und ausweitet (bṛṃhaṇa) — das Anwachsen von Sein und Wissen.

Word by Word

• yat: because/that which

• pramāṇa: measure, means of valid knowledge

• guhā: cave, hidden locus

• prajñā: higher intelligence, awakened cognition

• manas: mind

• tu: indeed

• manute: thinks, conceives

• yataḥ: from whom/because of whom

• bṛhattvāt: due to vastness

• bṛṃhaṇatvāt: due to the power of expansion/nourishing increase

• ca: and

• brahmā: Brahmā / the Brahman-designate “Brahmā”

• brahmavidām: of the knowers of Brahman

• varāḥ: the best, foremost.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional nirukti taught in the Purva-Bhaga context)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames the ultimate reality behind Linga worship as the inner “hidden measure” (pramāṇa-guhā) that enables all knowing; worship of the Linga is thus directed to Pati, the source of prajñā and the expansion of existence.

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

By describing the ground from which mind can think and by which being expands, it points to Shiva-tattva as Pati: vast, all-pervading consciousness that empowers cognition and unfolds the cosmos while remaining the inward cave of awareness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports an inward Pashupata-oriented contemplation: turning the mind back to its source (the guhā of prajñā) while performing Linga-pūjā, recognizing cognition itself as dependent on the Lord.