Shloka 8

Adhyaya 17: लिङ्गोद्भव—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वहङ्कार-शमनं, ओंकार-प्रादुर्भावः, मन्त्र-तत्त्वं च

Devanagari script

विनाधिपत्यं समतां गते ऽन्ते ब्रह्मणो मम शुष्के च स्थावरे सर्वे त्व् अनावृष्ट्या च सर्वशः

Transliteration

vinādhipatyaṃ samatāṃ gate 'nte brahmaṇo mama śuṣke ca sthāvare sarve tv anāvṛṣṭyā ca sarvaśaḥ

Translation

Cuando mi soberanía como Brahmā llegó a su fin y todo cayó en un estado de uniformidad, todos los seres inmóviles quedaron resecos por doquier debido a la total ausencia de lluvia. En tal derrumbe del orden, los Paśu (almas atadas) quedan desvalidos sin la gracia del Pati, el Señor Śiva.

Word by Word

• vinā: without

• adhipatyam: lordship/sovereignty

• samatām: equality/leveling (a uniform state)

• gate: having gone/attained

• ante: at the end

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā (the creator)

• mama: of me/my

• śuṣke: dried up/parched

• ca: and

• sthāvare: among the immovable beings

• sarve: all

• tu: indeed

• anāvṛṣṭyā: because of non-rain/drought

• ca: and

• sarvaśaḥ: everywhere/in every way

Speaker

Brahma (within Suta’s narration)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames creation’s instability when Brahmā’s governance fails, implying that only Śiva—the Pati revealed through the Linga—restores order and sustains life; thus Linga-worship is presented as taking refuge in the ultimate Lord beyond cosmic roles.

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

By highlighting the collapse of rain, vitality, and hierarchy at the end of Brahmā’s adhipatya, it indirectly points to Śiva-tattva as the transcendent regulator and compassionate refuge, the Pati who can release Pashus from the pasha of cosmic distress.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implies śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in the Pati during anāvṛṣṭi and disorder—an inner Pāśupata orientation that later expresses outwardly as Linga-pūjā and disciplined practice to overcome pasha (bondage).