Shloka 2

प्रलय-तत्त्वलयः, नीललोहित-रुद्रः, अष्टमूर्तिस्तवः, एवं ब्रह्मणो वैराग्यम्

Devanagari script

एवं परार्धे विप्रेन्द्र द्विगुणे तु तथा गते तदा धराम्भसि व्याप्ता ह्य् आपो वह्नौ समीरणे

Transliteration

evaṃ parārdhe viprendra dviguṇe tu tathā gate tadā dharāmbhasi vyāptā hy āpo vahnau samīraṇe

Translation

Thus, O best of Brahmins, when that supreme span of time had passed and then doubled as well, the earth became pervaded by water; those waters, in turn, were absorbed into fire, and fire into the wind—showing the ordered withdrawal of the elements as the cosmos returns toward the Lord Pati (Śiva) beyond the bonds of manifestation.

Word by Word

• एवं (evaṃ): thus

• परार्धे (parārdhe): at the supreme half-span/at the great terminal measure of time

• विप्रेन्द्र (viprendra): O chief among Brahmins

• द्विगुणे (dviguṇe): doubled/twofold

• तु (tu): indeed

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• गते (gate): having passed/elapsed

• तदा (tadā): then

• धरा (dharā): earth

• अम्भसि (ambhasi): in water/into the waters

• व्याप्ता (vyāptā): pervaded/filled

• हि (hi): indeed

• आपः (āpaḥ): waters

• वह्नौ (vahnau): into fire

• समीरणे (samīraṇe): into wind/air

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pati
• Mahadeva
• Agni
• Vayu

FAQs

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

It frames Linga worship as devotion to Pati (Shiva) who remains when the elements withdraw—earth, water, fire, and wind dissolve back from gross to subtle, while the Linga signifies the transcendent ground beyond dissolution.

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

By describing the ordered reabsorption of the elements, it implies Shiva-tattva as the stable, all-pervading reality into which manifest tattvas subside—Pati untouched by the pasha of material transformation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It aligns with Pashupata-style inner withdrawal (tattva-laya): turning attention from gross supports (bhutas) toward the subtle and ultimately toward Shiva, the Lord of laya and anugraha.