Shloka 22

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

आवृणोद्धि तथाकाशं स्पर्शमात्रं द्विजोत्तमाः आवृणोद्रूपमात्रं तु वायुर्वाति क्रियात्मकः

Transliteration

āvṛṇoddhi tathākāśaṃ sparśamātraṃ dvijottamāḥ āvṛṇodrūpamātraṃ tu vāyurvāti kriyātmakaḥ

Translation

Ô meilleurs des deux-fois-nés, alors le principe du toucher (sparśa-tanmātra) se répandit et enveloppa l’espace (ākāśa). De là souffla le vent (vāyu), dont la nature est action et mouvement, portant en lui le potentiel subtil de la forme (rūpa-tanmātra).

Word by Word

• आवृणोत्: enveloped/pervaded

• हि: indeed

• तथा: then/likewise

• आकाशम्: space/ether

• स्पर्शमात्रम्: the subtle element of touch (sparśa-tanmātra)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (brahmins)

• आवृणोत्: enveloped/covered

• रूपमात्रम्: the subtle element of form/color (rūpa-tanmātra)

• तु: and/indeed

• वायुः: wind/air

• वाति: blows/moves

• क्रियात्मकः: of the nature of activity (kriyā), dynamic

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It supports bhūta-śuddhi (elemental purification): by understanding how subtle elements (tanmātras) generate the gross world, the devotee reverses the process in meditation and offers the purified tattvas back to Shiva, the Pati beyond creation.

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

Though Shiva is not named in the line, the verse frames creation as a dependent unfolding of tattvas; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such evolutes are pasha-bound and contingent, while Shiva as Pati remains the independent ground that enables their manifestation without being limited by them.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tattva-viveka and bhūta-śuddhi used in Shaiva/Pāśupata-oriented sadhana: contemplating ākāśa and vāyu as successively arising principles to withdraw attention from the gross into the subtle before Linga-puja or japa.