Shloka 24

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

क्ष्मा सा पञ्चगुणा तस्माद् एकोना रससम्भवाः त्रिगुणो भगवान्वह्निर् द्विगुणः स्पर्शसम्भवः

Transliteration

kṣmā sā pañcaguṇā tasmād ekonā rasasambhavāḥ triguṇo bhagavānvahnir dviguṇaḥ sparśasambhavaḥ

Translation

Earth is fivefold in qualities. From it arises water, lacking one quality and born of taste. The venerable Fire (Vahni) is threefold in qualities, and Air is twofold, arising from touch. Thus the gross elements unfold by the Lord’s ordered manifestation.

Word by Word

• क्ष्मा: earth

• सा: that (element)

• पञ्चगुणा: possessing five qualities

• तस्मात्: from that

• एकोना: lacking one (quality)

• रससम्भवाः: born from taste (i.e., water arising with taste)

• त्रिगुणः: possessing three qualities

• भगवान्: venerable/lordly (as a cosmic principle)

• वह्निः: fire

• द्विगुणः: possessing two qualities

• स्पर्शसम्भवः: born from touch (i.e., air arising with touch)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmological teaching within the Linga Purana framework)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vayu
• Prithvi
• Ap (Water)

FAQs

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

It frames the world as a structured unfolding of tattvas; Linga worship then becomes a return-to-source practice, purifying the bhūtas and directing the pashu (soul) toward Pati (Shiva) beyond the elements.

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

By presenting a lawful sequence in elemental manifestation, it implies an intelligent governor of creation—Pati—whose order underlies the bhūtas, while Shiva-tattva remains transcendent to their guṇas and limitations.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Bhūta-śuddhi (elemental purification) and tattva-vicāra used in Shaiva and Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā—contemplating how sensory qualities (touch, taste, etc.) arise and are withdrawn back into Shiva.