Shloka 17

Adhyaya 23: श्वेत-लोहित-पीत-कृष्ण-विश्व-कल्पेषु रुद्रस्वरूप-गायत्री-तत्त्ववर्णनम्

Devanagari script

ये मां रुद्रं च रुद्राणीं गायत्रीं वेदमातरम् वेत्स्यन्ति तपसा युक्ता विमला ब्रह्मसंगताः

Transliteration

ye māṃ rudraṃ ca rudrāṇīṃ gāyatrīṃ vedamātaram vetsyanti tapasā yuktā vimalā brahmasaṃgatāḥ

Translation

Those who, disciplined by tapas, truly come to know Me as Rudra, as Rudrāṇī, and as Gāyatrī—the Mother of the Vedas—are purified and made stainless, united with Brahman, and attain communion with the Supreme (Pati) beyond all bonds (pāśa).

Word by Word

• ये (ye): those who

• मां (mām): Me

• रुद्रं (rudraṃ): Rudra (Shiva)

• च (ca): and

• रुद्राणीं (rudrāṇīm): Rudrani (Shakti/Parvati)

• गायत्रीं (gāyatrīm): Gayatri

• वेदमातरम् (vedamātaram): Mother of the Vedas

• वेत्स्यन्ति (vetsyanti): will know/realize

• तपसा (tapasā): by austerity/inner heat of discipline

• युक्ता (yuktā): yoked/steadfastly engaged

• विमला (vimalā): stainless/pure

• ब्रह्मसंगताः (brahmasaṃgatāḥ): united with Brahman/attained Brahman-communion

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching stream to the sages, echoing Rudra-centric doctrine)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Rudrani (Shakti/Parvati)
• Gayatri
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-centered devotion as inner realization: knowing Rudra (Pati) together with Rudrani (Shakti) and Gayatri (Vedic power) through tapas purifies the worshipper and culminates in Brahman-communion, making external worship fruitful through inner transformation.

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

Shiva is presented as Rudra who is not separate from Shakti (Rudrani) and is approachable through the Vedic mother-mantra (Gayatri). Realization of this unity elevates the pashu (individual soul) beyond pasha (bondage) into brahma-saṅgati (union with the Supreme).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas-yoga—disciplined austerity and focused sadhana—paired with mantra-jnana (Gayatri) and Rudra-Shakti contemplation, implying japa, purity (vimala), and steady integration (yukta) as the means to liberation.