Shloka 74

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

तिले यथा भवेत्तैलं घृतं पयसि वा स्थितम् तथा तमसि सत्त्वे च रजस्यनुसृतं जगत्

Transliteration

tile yathā bhavettailaṃ ghṛtaṃ payasi vā sthitam tathā tamasi sattve ca rajasyanusṛtaṃ jagat

Translation

Just as oil is present within sesame seeds, and ghee abides within milk, so too does this entire world remain pervaded and carried along within tamas, sattva, and rajas—the three guṇas—under the Lord’s ordering power.

Word by Word

• तिले (tile): in sesame seeds

• यथा (yathā): just as

• भवेत् (bhavet): comes to be/is found

• तैलम् (tailam): oil

• घृतम् (ghṛtam): ghee/clarified butter

• पयसि (payasi): in milk

• वा (vā): or/and

• स्थितम् (sthitam): abiding/placed

• तथा (tathā): so/likewise

• तमसि (tamasi): in tamas (inertia/darkness)

• सत्त्वे (sattve): in sattva (clarity/light)

• च (ca): and

• रजसि (rajasi): in rajas (activity/passion)

• अनुसृतम् (anusṛtam): pervaded, followed through, carried along

• जगत् (jagat): the world/universe

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya; conveying the siddhanta of guṇa-pervasion under Pati)

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as guṇa-pervaded (a form of pasha), implying that Linga worship aims at recognizing Pati (Shiva) as the inner ruler beyond the guṇas and loosening the soul’s bondage to them.

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

By implying an immanent pervasion—like oil in sesame and ghee in milk—while Shaiva Siddhanta holds Shiva as Guṇātīta (beyond the guṇas), the verse points to Shiva’s governance of guṇa-based prakṛti without being limited by it.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway aligns with Pashupata Yoga: observe the guṇas operating in mind and conduct, then apply Shiva-dhyāna, japa, and disciplined worship to move from tamas/rajas toward sattva and finally toward guṇātīta awareness of Pati.