Shloka 18

नैमिषारण्ये सूतागमनम् — लिङ्गमाहात्म्यभूमिका तथा शब्दब्रह्म-ओङ्कार-लिङ्गतत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच नमस्कृत्य महादेवं ब्रह्माणं च जनार्दनम् मुनीश्वरं तथा व्यासं वक्तुं लिङ्गं स्मराम्यहम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca namaskṛtya mahādevaṃ brahmāṇaṃ ca janārdanam munīśvaraṃ tathā vyāsaṃ vaktuṃ liṅgaṃ smarāmyaham

Translation

Sūta said: Having bowed to Mahādeva, to Brahmā and to Janārdana (Viṣṇu), and also to the lord of sages and to Vyāsa, I now recollect the supreme Liṅga in order to expound it—that Liṅga is Pati, who liberates the bound souls (paśus) from the fetters (pāśas).

Word by Word

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed/saluted

• महादेवं: to Mahādeva (Śiva)

• ब्रह्माणं: to Brahmā

• च: and

• जनार्दनम्: to Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

• मुनीश्वरं: to the lord of sages (preceptor of sages)

• तथा: likewise/also

• व्यासं: to Vyāsa

• वक्तुं: to speak/expound

• लिङ्गं: the Liṅga (mark of the Supreme, Śiva’s emblem)

• स्मरामि: I recollect/remember

• अहम्: I

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It establishes the text’s authority through salutation to Mahādeva and revered transmitters (Vyāsa), and frames the teaching as “smaraṇa of the Liṅga”—devotional recollection that precedes correct liṅga-upāsanā and puja.

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

By centering on the Liṅga as the object of recollection before narration, it implies Śiva-tattva as the supreme, formless-to-formed principle (liṅga) that can be contemplated and taught—Pati, the ultimate refuge behind creation and preservation (Brahmā and Viṣṇu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Smaraṇa (sacred remembrance) and namaskāra (reverential salutation) are highlighted as foundational disciplines—inner upāsanā aligned with Pāśupata orientation, preparing the mind for liṅga-pūjā and śāstra-śravaṇa.