Shloka 28
Śiva–Hari–Rudra–Vidhīnāṃ Tattva-nirṇayaḥ
Identity of Śiva, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and Brahmā; Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Reconciliation
स्वयं च कारणं कार्यं स्वस्य नैव कदाचन । एकोव्यनेकतां यातोप्यनेकोप्येकतां व्रजेत्
svayaṃ ca kāraṇaṃ kāryaṃ svasya naiva kadācana | ekovyanekatāṃ yātopyanekopyekatāṃ vrajet
The Self is never, at any time, both the cause and the effect of itself. Even the One may appear to enter multiplicity, and even the many may return to oneness.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Frames bondage and release as movements between apparent multiplicity and realized oneness; supports the Siddhānta view that the Lord’s concealment and grace govern the paśu’s experience.
Cosmic Event: Emanation and reabsorption described as appearance: one-to-many and many-to-one
FAQs
It points to Shiva as the ultimate, uncaused Reality: the world of causes and effects changes, while the One Lord can appear as many without losing His unity; liberation is the return of the mind from multiplicity to that oneness.
The Linga is a saguna support through which devotees approach the One Shiva; though He is worshipped in many forms and places (including Jyotirlingas), the verse emphasizes that all such manifestations ultimately refer to the same undivided Lord.
Meditate on Shiva’s oneness while chanting the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), using japa to gather the scattered mind (many) into single-pointed devotion (one), optionally with Tripuṇḍra and Rudrāksha as aids to steadiness.