Shloka 24

देवादिसृष्टिकथनम् (वसिष्ठशोकः, पराशरजन्म, एकलिङ्गपूजा, रुद्रदर्शनम्)

Devanagari script

ततः प्रणम्य शिरसा वसिष्ठो वारिजेक्षणम् अदृश्यन्त्या महातेजाः पस्पर्शोदरमादरात्

Transliteration

tataḥ praṇamya śirasā vasiṣṭho vārijekṣaṇam adṛśyantyā mahātejāḥ pasparśodaramādarāt

Translation

Then Vasiṣṭha, the great-splendoured sage, bowed his head in reverence to the lotus‑eyed Lord; and though the Lord was not visible, he respectfully touched His abdomen—affirming that Pati (Śiva) is present even beyond sight, and that bhakti reaches Him through inner recognition rather than mere perception.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• praṇamya: having bowed/saluted

• śirasā: with (his) head

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Sage Vasiṣṭha

• vārija-īkṣaṇam: the lotus-eyed one (the Lord)

• adṛśyantyā: while (He was) not being seen/though invisible

• mahā-tejāḥ: of great radiance/splendour

• pasparśa: touched

• udaram: the abdomen

• ādarāt: with reverence/respectfully

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Vasistha
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śiva as Pati can be approached even without outward darśana—reverent surrender and inner certainty are themselves valid modes of Linga-oriented devotion.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as adṛśya (beyond sensory grasp) yet immediately present; the Lord’s reality is not limited to visible form, aligning with the Shaiva view of Pati as transcendent and immanent.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Praṇāma (bowing) paired with mindful sparśa (reverent touch) reflects disciplined bhakti and inner-focus akin to Pāśupata orientation—contact is made through devotion and awareness, not only external sight.