Shloka 37

Adhyaya 75: Nishkala–Sakala Shiva, Twofold Linga, and the Supremacy of Dhyana-Yajna

Devanagari script

तमेकमाहुर्द्विगुणं च केचित् केचित्तमाहुस्त्रिगुणात्मकं च ऊचुस् तथा तं च शिवं तथान्ये संसारिणं वेदविदो वदन्ति

Transliteration

tamekamāhurdviguṇaṃ ca kecit kecittamāhustriguṇātmakaṃ ca ūcus tathā taṃ ca śivaṃ tathānye saṃsāriṇaṃ vedavido vadanti

Translation

The knowers of the Veda speak of Him in many ways: some declare Him the One alone; some describe Him as endowed with twofold powers; others call Him of the nature of the three guṇas. Some proclaim Him as Śiva, while others even describe Him as moving within saṃsāra—thus do the learned speak, according to their standpoints.

Word by Word

• तम् (tam): Him

• एकम् (ekam): the One, non-dual

• आहुः (āhuḥ): say, declare

• द्विगुणम् (dviguṇam): twofold in qualities/powers

• च (ca): and

• केचित् (kecit): some

• त्रिगुणात्मकम् (triguṇātmakaṃ): having the nature of the three guṇas (sattva-rajas-tamas)

• ऊचुः (ūcuḥ): said

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• शिवम् (śivam): Śiva, the auspicious Lord (Pati)

• अन्ये (anye): others

• संसारिणम् (saṃsāriṇam): as a transmigrating/saṃsāra-involved one (as imputed by limited vision)

• वेदविदः (vedavidaḥ): knowers of the Veda

• वदन्ति (vadanti): speak, assert

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, summarizing Vedic viewpoints)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It explains why the Linga can be worshipped as the One Supreme (Pati) even when scriptures describe Him with different attributes—devotees fix the mind on Shiva as the single reality behind all names and guṇic descriptions.

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

It presents Shiva as ultimately One, yet spoken of as dviguṇa or triguṇātmaka from relative standpoints—Shaiva Siddhanta reads this as the difference between Shiva’s transcendent nature (beyond guṇas) and His immanent governance of guṇas for the sake of pashus bound by pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is yogic discernment (viveka) used in Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: do not mistake guṇic manifestations for the Lord’s essence; meditate on Shiva as Pati who rules saṃsāra without being bound by it.