Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

अस्य लिङ्गादभूद्बीजम् अकारो बीजिनः प्रभोः उकारयोनौ निक्षिप्तम् अवर्धत समन्ततः

Transliteration

asya liṅgādabhūdbījam akāro bījinaḥ prabhoḥ ukārayonau nikṣiptam avardhata samantataḥ

Translation

From this Liṅga arose the seed—the letter “A,” belonging to the Seed-bearing Lord. When that seed was placed in the womb of “U,” it expanded on every side, revealing the all-pervading unfoldment of Pati (Śiva) through Śakti as the ground of creation.

Word by Word

• asya: of this

• liṅgāt: from the Liṅga

• abhūt: arose/came to be

• bījam: seed/cause

• akāraḥ: the letter ‘A’

• bījinaḥ: of the seed-possessing/seed-bearing one

• prabhoḥ: of the Lord

• ukāra-yonau: in the womb/source of ‘U’

• nikṣiptam: placed/implanted

• avardhata: grew/increased

• samantataḥ: on all sides/everywhere

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Liṅga as the causal source of manifestation: from the Liṅga arises the ‘seed’ (bīja), showing why Liṅga-pūjā honors Śiva not merely as a form, but as the origin and support of all becoming.

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

Śiva is indicated as the Seed-bearing Lord (Pati) whose causal potency is expressed through a womb/source principle, implying Śiva-tattva as transcendent cause that becomes immanent through Śakti without losing sovereignty.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A mantra-centered contemplation is implied: meditating on the bīja nature of sound (A and U) as Śiva-Śakti symbolism, supporting inner Liṅga-dhyāna aligned with Pāśupata orientation toward Pati beyond bondage (pāśa).