Shloka 52

Adhyaya 17: लिङ्गोद्भव—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वहङ्कार-शमनं, ओंकार-प्रादुर्भावः, मन्त्र-तत्त्वं च

Devanagari script

सूर्यमण्डलवद्दृष्ट्वा वर्णमाद्यं तु दक्षिणे उत्तरे पावकप्रख्यम् उकारं पुरुषर्षभः

Transliteration

sūryamaṇḍalavaddṛṣṭvā varṇamādyaṃ tu dakṣiṇe uttare pāvakaprakhyam ukāraṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ

Translation

Beholding it like the orb of the Sun, the best of men perceived the primordial letter ‘A’ on the southern side; and on the northern side he perceived the letter ‘U’, radiant like fire—revealing the mantra-form of the Linga, wherein Pati (Śiva) is known through sacred sound.

Word by Word

• सूर्यमण्डलवत्: like the solar orb

• दृष्ट्वा: having beheld

• वर्णम्: letter/syllable

• आद्यम्: primordial/first

• तु: indeed

• दक्षिणे: on the southern side

• उत्तरे: on the northern side

• पावकप्रख्यम्: blazing like fire

• उकारम्: the syllable/letter ‘U’

• पुरुषर्षभः: bull among men, best of men

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the inner vision described in the Linga’s manifestation episode)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It links Linga-darśana (vision of the Linga as blazing light) with mantra-darśana (vision of sacred syllables), teaching that worship approaches Śiva as both jyotis (radiance) and śabda (revealed sound).

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

Śiva as Pati is indicated through the Linga’s solar brilliance and through varṇa (mantric syllables), implying that the Lord transcends form yet becomes knowable to the paśu (bound soul) via mantra and divine light.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative practice central to Pāśupata-oriented devotion: meditating on the Linga as fiery radiance while internally attending to the mantra-syllables (varna) as a means to loosen pāśa (bondage).