Shloka 7

एकार्णव-सृष्टिक्रमः, ब्रह्म-विष्णु-परस्परप्रवेशः, शिवस्य आगमनं च

Devanagari script

एवं तत्र शयानेन विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना आत्मारामेण क्रीडार्थं लीलयाक्लिष्टकर्मणा

Transliteration

evaṃ tatra śayānena viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā ātmārāmeṇa krīḍārthaṃ līlayākliṣṭakarmaṇā

Translation

Thus, there upon the cosmic waters, Viṣṇu—mighty in manifestation—lay in repose. Delighting in the Self and complete in himself, he brings forth activity only for divine play (līlā), without strain or karmic taint. In Shaiva understanding, such effortless governance belongs to the Lord alone (Pati, Śiva), while bound souls (paśu) act under bondage (pāśa).

Word by Word

• एवं (evaṃ): thus

• तत्र (tatra): there

• शयानेन (śayānena): by one who is lying/reclining

• विष्णुना (viṣṇunā): by Vishnu

• प्रभविष्णुना (prabhaviṣṇunā): by the supremely powerful Vishnu / Vishnu who is potent in origination

• आत्मारामेण (ātmārāmeṇa): by the one who delights in the Self, self-satisfied

• क्रीडार्थम् (krīḍārtham): for the purpose of sport/play

• लीलया (līlayā): by divine play, effortlessly

• अक्लिष्टकर्मणा (akliṣṭakarmaṇā): by one whose action is untroubled/unstained (not producing binding karma)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames creation as līlā (divine play) performed without karmic bondage, preparing the theology in which the Linga signifies the transcendent Lord (Pati) whose action is pure and unstained—worthy of worship beyond worldly causality.

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

Though naming Vishnu, it highlights traits Shaiva Siddhanta attributes to the Supreme Lord: self-sufficiency (ātmārāma) and action free from binding karma (akliṣṭa-karma). This differentiates Pati from paśu, whose actions are conditioned by pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key yogic takeaway is niṣkāma, non-binding action—cultivating worship and discipline that reduce pāśa (bondage), aligning the practitioner (paśu) toward the Lord’s effortless purity symbolized by the Linga.