Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

वेदशब्देभ्य एवेशं विश्वात्मानमचिन्तयत् तदाभवदृषिर्वेद ऋषेः सारतमं शुभम्

Transliteration

vedaśabdebhya eveśaṃ viśvātmānamacintayat tadābhavadṛṣirveda ṛṣeḥ sāratamaṃ śubham

Translation

From the very sounds of the Veda, the seer contemplated Īśa—Śiva, the Inner Self of the universe. From that contemplation, the Veda itself manifested as a Ṛṣi, becoming for the sage the most excellent and auspicious essence.

Word by Word

• वेदशब्देभ्यः: from the Vedic sounds/utterances

• एव: indeed, alone

• ईशम्: the Lord (Īśa, Shiva)

• विश्वात्मानम्: the Universal Self, the indwelling Atman of all

• अचिन्तयत्: he contemplated/meditated upon

• तदा: then

• अभवत्: became/manifested

• ऋषिः: a seer, rishi

• वेदः: the Veda (as revealed knowledge)

• ऋषेः: of the sage

• सारतमम्: the most essential/excellent essence

• शुभम्: auspicious, holy.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Veda
• Rishi

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-oriented Shaiva devotion in Veda-śabda: Shiva (Pati) is realized through mantra and contemplation, making worship a continuation of Vedic revelation rather than something outside it.

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

Shiva is presented as Īśa and Viśvātmā—the indwelling Universal Self—known through inner contemplation (dhyāna) sparked by Vedic sound, indicating Pati as both transcendent Lord and immanent consciousness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-based dhyāna: meditating on Shiva through Vedic sounds (veda-śabda), a Pāśupata-aligned method where the pashu (individual soul) turns inward from śabda to the realization of Pati.