Shloka 99

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

अमृतं चाक्षरं ब्रह्म परमात्मा परापरम् निर्विकल्पं निराभासं ज्ञानं पर्यायवाचकम्

Transliteration

amṛtaṃ cākṣaraṃ brahma paramātmā parāparam nirvikalpaṃ nirābhāsaṃ jñānaṃ paryāyavācakam

Translation

„Unsterblich“, „unvergänglich“, „Brahman“, „das höchste Selbst“ und „das Höhere-und-Niedere“ sowie „ohne begriffliche Unterscheidung“ und „ohne weltliche Erscheinung“ — all dies sind gleichbedeutende Benennungen für das eine Wissen (jñāna), das den höchsten Herrn (Pati) bezeichnet.

Word by Word

• amṛtam: immortal, deathless

• ca: and

• akṣaram: imperishable, undecaying

• brahma: Brahman, the Absolute

• paramātmā: Supreme Self (inner ruler)

• parāparam: transcendent-yet-immanent (higher and lower)

• nirvikalpam: free from conceptual construction, undifferentiated

• nirābhāsam: without manifestation/phenomenal appearance, beyond objective display

• jñānam: spiritual Knowledge, consciousness-principle

• paryāya-vācakam: a synonymous designation, an equivalent term

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching on Shiva-tattva as supreme Knowledge)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga devotion as worship of the imperishable Pati—Shiva—who is understood through liberating jñāna; the Linga points to the akṣara, amṛta reality beyond decay and death.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as the Supreme Self and Brahman—nirvikalpa (beyond mental constructs) and nirābhāsa (beyond phenomenal projection)—the one consciousness/knowledge that transcends yet pervades all (parāpara).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is jñāna-oriented Pashupata yoga: dissolving vikalpa (conceptuality) to realize the Pati as inner Paramātmā; external puja is strengthened by this inner recognition.