Shloka 34

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

तत्रतत्र चतुर्वक्त्रा ब्रह्माणो हरयो भवाः सृष्टाः प्रधानेन तदा लब्ध्वा शम्भोस्तु संनिधिम्

Transliteration

tatratatra caturvaktrā brahmāṇo harayo bhavāḥ sṛṣṭāḥ pradhānena tadā labdhvā śambhostu saṃnidhim

Translation

Ici et là, des Brahmā aux quatre visages, des formes de Hari (Viṣṇu) et des formes de Bhava (Rudra) furent émanés par Pradhāna. Alors, ayant obtenu la proximité de Śambhu (Śiva), ils vinrent à l’existence sous Sa présence souveraine.

Word by Word

• तत्रतत्र: in various places/again and again

• चतुर्वक्त्राः: four-faced

• ब्रह्माणः: Brahmās (creator-aspects)

• हरयः: Haris/Viṣṇus (preserver-aspects)

• भवाः: Bhavas/Rudras (Śiva-aspects)

• सृष्टाः: created/emitted

• प्रधानेन: by Pradhāna (primordial Nature)

• तदा: then

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained/attained

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva as the auspicious Lord)

• तु: indeed

• संनिधिम्: proximity/presence

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga creation sequence to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shambhu)
• Brahma
• Vishnu (Hari)
• Rudra (Bhava)
• Pradhana

FAQs

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

It frames all creator–preserver–dissolver powers (Brahmā, Hari, Bhava) as arising within Pradhāna yet operating only under Śambhu’s saṃnidhi—supporting Linga worship as devotion to the supreme Pati who empowers every cosmic function.

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

Śiva is implied as transcendent to Pradhāna while also immanent as the presiding presence (saṃnidhi) without which manifested deities and their functions do not truly arise—Pati standing above Pāśa (bondage/Prakṛti) and guiding Pashus (souls) through order.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to saṃnidhi-bhāva—seeking the Lord’s proximity—an inner principle behind Pāśupata Yoga and Linga-upāsanā, where practice is oriented to abiding in Śiva’s presence rather than treating creation-forces as independent.