Shloka 17

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

महतस्तु तथा वृत्तिः संकल्पाध्यवसायिका महतस् त्रिगुणस् तस्माद् अहंकारो रजो ऽधिकः

Transliteration

mahatastu tathā vṛttiḥ saṃkalpādhyavasāyikā mahatas triguṇas tasmād ahaṃkāro rajo 'dhikaḥ

Translation

La fonction de Mahat (l’intellect cosmique) est de former l’intention et la détermination décisive. Mahat est constitué des trois guṇas ; de lui naît donc Ahaṃkāra (le principe du « je »), où rajas prédomine.

Word by Word

• mahataḥ: of Mahat (cosmic intellect)

• tu: indeed

• tathā: thus

• vṛttiḥ: function/operation

• saṅkalpa: intention/resolve

• adhyavasāyikā: characterized by decisive ascertainment

• mahataḥ: of Mahat

• triguṇaḥ: consisting of the three guṇas

• tasmāt: from that/therefore

• ahaṃkāraḥ: ego-principle, I-maker

• rajaḥ-adhikaḥ: with rajas predominant/excessive

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmological sequence to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It explains how ego (ahaṃkāra) emerges from Mahat through guṇas—showing why Linga-pūjā and Shaiva discipline aim to dissolve guṇa-driven self-sense (pāśa) and reorient the pashu (soul) toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By mapping Mahat and ahaṃkāra as guṇa-based evolutes, it implicitly contrasts them with Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati—beyond the guṇas and their products, yet allowing their ordered manifestation for creation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A key Pāśupata-Yoga takeaway is vigilance over saṅkalpa and adhyavasāya (intention and determination), since they belong to Mahat; through mantra-japa, dhyāna on the Linga, and vairāgya, the sādhaka reduces rājasic agitation that strengthens ahaṃkāra.