Shloka 19

नैमिषारण्ये सूतागमनम् — लिङ्गमाहात्म्यभूमिका तथा शब्दब्रह्म-ओङ्कार-लिङ्गतत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

शब्दं ब्रह्मतनुं साक्षाच् छब्दब्रह्मप्रकाशकम् वर्णावयवम् अव्यक्तलक्षणं बहुधा स्थितम्

Transliteration

śabdaṃ brahmatanuṃ sākṣāc chabdabrahmaprakāśakam varṇāvayavam avyaktalakṣaṇaṃ bahudhā sthitam

Translation

Sound itself is directly the body of Brahman—the revealer of the Śabda-Brahman. It is constituted of letters and their parts, marked by the unmanifest (avyakta), and yet it abides in many modes.

Word by Word

• शब्दम्: sound

• ब्रह्मतनुम्: having Brahman as its body / the body of Brahman

• साक्षात्: directly, manifestly

• शब्दब्रह्मप्रकाशकम्: that which illuminates/reveals Śabda-Brahman (the Absolute as sacred sound)

• वर्ण-अवयवम्: consisting of phonemes (varṇas) and their components

• अव्यक्त-लक्षणम्: characterized by the unmanifest (subtle) state

• बहुधा: in many ways, variously

• स्थितम्: abiding, established

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga devotion as rooted in mantra and sacred sound: the Linga is approached not only as form but as Śabda-Brahman, where worship begins with vibration (nāda) and articulated varṇas.

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

Shiva-tattva is indicated as the Pati who is both unmanifest (avyakta) and manifest as revelatory sound—present in many modes, yet grounded in the subtle source beyond ordinary perception.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-centric practice: japa, śravaṇa of sacred sound, and nāda-upāsanā as a Pāśupata-oriented discipline that refines the paśu (soul) by loosening pāśa (bondage).