Shloka 29

विष्णुरुवाच—एकाक्षर-प्रणव-लिङ्ग-व्याप्ति-शिवस्तोत्रम्

Devanagari script

ज्ञानाय ज्ञानगम्याय नमस्ते संविदे सदा शिखराय नमस्तुभ्यं नीलकण्ठाय वै नमः

Transliteration

jñānāya jñānagamyāya namaste saṃvide sadā śikharāya namastubhyaṃ nīlakaṇṭhāya vai namaḥ

Translation

Salutations to You who are Knowledge itself, and to You who are attained only through true knowledge—ever as Saṃvid, pure Consciousness. Salutations to You, the Supreme Summit (Śikhara); salutations indeed to You, O Nīlakaṇṭha, the Blue-throated Lord.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानाय: to (You as) Knowledge

• ज्ञान-गम्याय: to (You) attainable through knowledge/realization

• नमस्ते: salutations to You

• संविदे: to Consciousness (Saṃvid), the illuminating awareness

• सदा: always/ever

• शिखराय: to the Summit/Peak, the highest principle

• नमस्तुभ्यं: salutations to You

• नीलकण्ठाय: to the Blue-throated One (Śiva who held the poison)

• वै: indeed/verily

• नमः: salutation

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Śiva-stuti within the Purva-Bhaga context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as contemplation of Śiva as Saṃvid (pure consciousness) and Jñāna (liberating knowledge), emphasizing inner realization alongside outer ritual.

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

Śiva is identified as Knowledge itself and the goal reached through knowledge—Pati, the supreme conscious principle (Saṃvid), the highest summit (Śikhara) beyond the pashu–pāśa condition.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Jnana-oriented upāsanā: meditative recitation (japa) and contemplation of Śiva’s epithets, aligning with Pāśupata-leaning practice where knowledge and awareness sever pāśa (bondage).