Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 66

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

अनिर्देश्यं च तद्रूपमनाम कर्मवर्जितम् । अलिंगं लिंगतां प्राप्तं ध्यानमार्गेप्यगोचरम्

Transliteration

anirdeśyaṃ ca tadrūpamanāma karmavarjitam | aliṃgaṃ liṃgatāṃ prāptaṃ dhyānamārgepyagocaram

Translation

Jene Wirklichkeit (Śiva) hat eine Gestalt, die nicht zu bestimmen ist; sie ist jenseits des Namens und unberührt vom Karma. Obgleich sie an sich ohne Zeichen ist, nimmt sie zum Zwecke der Offenbarung den Zustand des Liṅga an—und bleibt doch selbst dem Pfad der Meditation unerreichbar.

Word by Word

• अनिर्देश्यम्: indescribable
• अनिर्देश्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anirdeśya (प्रातिपदिक; from nir-√diś with अ- negation)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नकारार्थक-उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्-रूपम्: that form
• तत्-रूपम्: Karma/Viṣaya (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'तस्य रूपम्'

• अनाम: nameless
• अनाम: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anāman (प्रातिपदिक; a- + nāman)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'name-less'

• कर्म-वर्जितम्: devoid of action
• कर्म-वर्जितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + varjita (प्रातिपदिक; from √vṛj/√varj)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया/पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: 'कर्मभिः वर्जितम्' (devoid of action)

• अलिङ्गम्: without mark/sign
• अलिङ्गम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aliṅga (प्रातिपदिक; a- + liṅga)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लिङ्ग-ताम्: the state of being a liṅga/mark
• लिङ्ग-ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅgatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; -तā abstract noun

• प्राप्तम्: having attained
• प्राप्तम्: Kriyā/Predicative (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (आप्) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'having attained'

• ध्यान-मार्गे: in the path of meditation
• ध्यान-मार्गे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'ध्यानस्य मार्गे'

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Emphasis/Concession (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• अगोचरम्: beyond perception/inaccessible
• अगोचरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agocara (प्रातिपदिक; a- + gocara)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal nucleus of the Liṅga-theophany: the Supreme is in itself aliṅga (beyond marks) yet, out of grace, becomes ‘liṅgatāṃ prāpta’—an emblematic manifestation enabling finite knowers to orient devotion and knowledge.

Significance: Establishes why Liṅga-worship is valid in Śaiva Siddhānta: the transcendent Pati accepts an accessible sign for anugraha while remaining beyond conceptual capture.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Metaphysical disclosure: the Supreme beyond name/karma becomes manifest as Liṅga for revelation—anugraha operating through form without compromising transcendence.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that Śiva is ultimately beyond description, name, and karmic limitation, yet out of grace becomes approachable through the Liṅga—pointing to liberation through the Lord who transcends yet supports all paths.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse frames Liṅga worship as a compassionate manifestation of the formless (aliṅga) Lord into an emblematic form (liṅga) so devotees can focus devotion and receive anugraha (divine grace), while remembering His transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Liṅga-dhyāna and Liṅga-pūjā are implied: meditate on Śiva as beyond name and karma while worshipping the Liṅga with mantra (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and pure intent, treating the form as a gateway to the formless truth.