Shloka 13

अविद्या-पञ्चक, नवसर्ग-क्रमः, प्रजापति-प्रसवः

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 5

Devanagari script

ऋभुं सनत्कुमारं च ससर्जादौ सनातनः तावूर्ध्वरेतसौ दिव्यौ चाग्रजौ ब्रह्मवादिनौ

Transliteration

ṛbhuṃ sanatkumāraṃ ca sasarjādau sanātanaḥ tāvūrdhvaretasau divyau cāgrajau brahmavādinau

Translation

In the beginning, the Eternal One brought forth Ṛbhu and Sanatkumāra. Those two—divine, elder-born, and established in the vow of upward-flowing vitality—were proclaimers of Brahman, devoted to the highest truth.

Word by Word

• ऋभुम् (ṛbhum): Ṛbhu (a primordial sage)

• सनत्कुमारम् (sanatkumāram): Sanatkumāra (the ever-youthful Kumāra-sage)

• च (ca): and

• ससर्ज (sasarja): created, emanated

• आदौ (ādau): in the beginning

• सनातनः (sanātanaḥ): the Eternal One

• तौ (tau): those two

• ऊर्ध्वरेतसौ (ūrdhvaretasau): with upward-directed seed/vital energy, celibate ascetics

• दिव्यौ (divyau): divine

• च (ca): and

• अग्रजौ (agrajau): elder-born, foremost

• ब्रह्मवादिनौ (brahmavādinau): speakers/teachers of Brahman (supreme reality).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the creation account within the Linga Purana framework)

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Ribhu

FAQs

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

It establishes that the earliest teachers are purity-centered, Brahman-realization-oriented sages; such inner discipline (ūrdhvareta) is presented as the foundation for approaching the Linga as Pati—the transcendent Lord beyond bondage.

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

By calling the source “Sanātana” (the Eternal), the verse points to Pati as beginningless reality who emanates enlightened beings—implying Shiva-tattva as the timeless ground from which wisdom and liberation-oriented lineages arise.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key marker is ūrdhvareta—brahmacarya with conserved and sublimated vital energy—aligned with Pashupata-style inner discipline that supports jñāna (Brahmavāda) and steadiness in worship.