Shloka 48

Adhyaya 4: अहोरात्र-युग-मन्वन्तर-कल्पमान तथा प्रलयान्ते सृष्ट्युपक्रमः

Devanagari script

मनः सुदर्शो बृंहश् च तथा वै श्वेतलोहितः रक्तश् च पीतवासाश् च असितः सर्वरूपकः

Transliteration

manaḥ sudarśo bṛṃhaś ca tathā vai śvetalohitaḥ raktaś ca pītavāsāś ca asitaḥ sarvarūpakaḥ

Translation

He is Mind itself; He is the Auspicious-Visioned One; He is the Vast and Expansive. He is the Lord of white-and-red hue; He is red; He is clad in yellow garments; He is dark, unfathomable—indeed, He is the One who assumes every form. Thus is Pati, the all-pervading Śiva, described through His many appearances while remaining beyond all limiting attributes.

Word by Word

• मनः (manaḥ): mind, inner organ

• सुदर्शः (sudarśaḥ): of auspicious vision, beautiful to behold

• बृंहः (bṛṃhaḥ): expansive, vast, increasing

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• वै (vai): indeed

• श्वेतलोहितः (śvetalohitaḥ): white-and-red-hued

• रक्तः (raktaḥ): red, ruddy

• पीतवासाः (pītavāsāḥ): wearing yellow garments

• असितः (asitaḥ): dark, black, inscrutable

• सर्वरूपकः (sarvarūpakaḥ): having all forms, assuming every form

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It supports Linga-upasana by teaching that the one Shiva (Pati) can be approached through many sacred forms and visualizations—color, garment, and appearance—while the Linga signifies His formless, all-containing reality.

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

Shiva is presented as sarvarūpaka—assuming all forms—yet also identified with manaḥ (the inner principle), indicating His immanence as consciousness while remaining beyond limiting attributes that bind the pashu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative practice: meditate on Shiva as the indwelling mind and as the Lord manifesting in diverse forms, using such dhyana during Linga-puja to loosen pasha (bondage) and orient the pashu toward Pati.