Shloka 68

एकार्णव-सृष्टिक्रमः, ब्रह्म-विष्णु-परस्परप्रवेशः, शिवस्य आगमनं च

Devanagari script

को ह्यसौ शङ्करो नाम आवयोर्व्यतिरिच्यते तस्य तत्क्रोधजं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा हरिरभाषत

Transliteration

ko hyasau śaṅkaro nāma āvayorvyatiricyate tasya tatkrodhajaṃ vākyaṃ śrutvā harirabhāṣata

Translation

“¿Quién es, en verdad, ese llamado Śaṅkara, distinto de nosotros dos?” Al oír aquella frase nacida de la ira, Hari (Viṣṇu) respondió.

Word by Word

• ko: who

• hi: indeed

• asau: that (person)

• śaṅkaraḥ: Śaṅkara (the Beneficent One, Śiva)

• nāma: by name

• āvayoḥ: of us two

• vyatiricyate: is separate/different

• tasya: of him

• tat: that

• krodhajam: born of anger

• vākyam: statement/utterance

• śrutvā: having heard

• hariḥ: Hari (Viṣṇu)

• abhāṣata: spoke/replied

Speaker

Suta (narrating); inner scene: Hari (Vishnu) responds after Brahma’s statement

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames the Brahma–Vishnu rivalry that precedes recognition of Śaṅkara as Pati; the later manifestation of the Linga resolves such ego-born conflict and reorients worship toward the supreme Lord beyond the two.

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

By questioning “who is Śaṅkara apart from us,” the verse highlights that Śiva-tattva is not a rival deity within creation but the transcendent Pati whose reality is initially obscured by krodha (egoic agitation).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied Pāśupata takeaway is inner restraint: conquering krodha and ahaṅkāra (bondage/pāśa) to recognize Pati; this becomes the spiritual basis for later Linga-pūjā and contemplative worship.