Shloka 56

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

महान्तं तद् बृहन्तं च तदजं चिन्मयं द्विजाः अप्राणममनस्कं च तदस्निग्धमलोहितम्

Transliteration

mahāntaṃ tad bṛhantaṃ ca tadajaṃ cinmayaṃ dvijāḥ aprāṇamamanaskaṃ ca tadasnigdhamalohitam

Translation

O twice-born ones, That is the Great and the Vast; unborn and made of pure Consciousness (cinmaya). It is without vital breath and without mind—unclinging, and free from all redness: passion, blood, and material coloration.

Word by Word

• महान्तम्: the Great (Mahān, Supreme)

• तत्: That (the Absolute, Shiva as Pati)

• बृहन्तम्: the Vast/All-pervading

• च: and

• तत् अजम्: That which is unborn

• चिन्मयम्: consisting of Consciousness (Cit)

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (Brahmins)

• अप्राणम्: without prāṇa (vital breath)

• अमनस्कम्: without mind (beyond manas)

• च: and

• तत् अस्निग्धम्: That which is unattached/non-clinging (without rāga)

• अलोहितम्: without redness/blood (free from passion and material taint)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s transcendent nature to the sages)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It directs the worshipper beyond mere form to the Linga’s meaning: Shiva as Pati—unborn, all-pervading Consciousness—so puja becomes contemplation of the formless reality indicated by the Linga.

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

Shiva is presented as nirguṇa: Great and Vast, unborn, constituted of Cit, beyond prāṇa and manas, and untouched by rāga (attachment) or material qualities—thus distinct from pashu (bound soul) and pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative Pāśupata-oriented dhyāna is implied: meditate on Shiva as consciousness beyond breath-control and mental constructs—cultivating vairāgya (non-attachment) while using the Linga as a support for transcendent focus.