Shloka 32

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

आकाशेनावृतो वायुर् अहंकारेण शब्दजः महता शब्दहेतुर्वै प्रधानेनावृतः स्वयम्

Transliteration

ākāśenāvṛto vāyur ahaṃkāreṇa śabdajaḥ mahatā śabdaheturvai pradhānenāvṛtaḥ svayam

Translation

Air (vāyu), born from the sound-principle, is enclosed by ether (ākāśa). The ego-principle (ahaṃkāra) encloses the source of sound; and Mahat (cosmic intellect), the cause of that sound, is itself veiled by Pradhāna (primordial nature).

Word by Word

• ākāśena: by ether/space

• āvṛtaḥ: covered/enveloped

• vāyuḥ: air/wind principle

• ahaṃkāreṇa: by ahaṃkāra (ego-principle)

• śabdajaḥ: born of sound / arising from the sound-tanmatra

• mahatā: by Mahat (cosmic intellect)

• śabda-hetuḥ: the cause of sound

• vai: indeed

• pradhānena: by Pradhāna (primordial prakṛti)

• āvṛtaḥ: covered/veiled

• svayam: itself

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames creation as layered coverings (āvṛti) of tattvas; Linga worship aims at piercing these veils—Pradhāna, Mahat, Ahaṃkāra, and the subtle elements—to realize Pati (Shiva) beyond all coverings.

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

By describing how even Mahat is veiled by Pradhāna, the verse implies Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Lord (Pati) who is not a product of these evolutes and is the ultimate revealer beyond Prakṛti’s coverings.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A tattva-viveka (discernment) approach aligned with Pashupata Yoga: meditative withdrawal from gross-to-subtle principles, recognizing each as an āvṛti (covering), culminating in devotion and inner absorption in Shiva beyond Pradhāna.