Shloka 9

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

बीजं योनिश् च निर्बीजं निर्बीजो बीजमुच्यते बीजयोनिप्रधानानाम् आत्माख्या वर्तते त्विह

Transliteration

bījaṃ yoniś ca nirbījaṃ nirbījo bījamucyate bījayonipradhānānām ātmākhyā vartate tviha

Translation

Ici, l’on parle de la « semence » et de la « matrice », et aussi de ce qui est « sans semence ». Le sans-semence lui-même est appelé la Semence véritable. Pour ce qui est primordial comme semence et matrice, l’appellation « Ātman » est enseignée ici—désignant Pati (Śiva) comme la cause transcendante au-delà des couples générateurs de Prakṛti.

Word by Word

• बीजम् (bījam): seed, causal potency

• योनिः (yoniḥ): womb, matrix, generative source

• च (ca): and

• निर्बीजम् (nirbījam): seedless, without material cause

• निर्बीजः (nirbījaḥ): the Seedless One

• बीजम् (bījam): seed / ultimate cause

• उच्यते (ucyate): is said, is called

• बीज-योनि-प्रधानानाम् (bīja-yoni-pradhānānām): of that which is primary as seed and womb (the generative principles)

• आत्म-आख्या (ātma-ākhyā): the name/designation ‘Ātman’, Self

• वर्तते (vartate): is present, applies, is established

• तु (tu): indeed, however

• इह (iha): here (in this teaching/context)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s tattva teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga as the sign of the Seedless Pati—Śiva—who is the ultimate cause beyond the paired generative principles (bīja and yoni). Linga worship thus targets the transcendent source, not merely fertility symbolism.

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

Śiva-tattva is indicated as nirbīja—uncaused and beyond Prakṛti—yet called the ‘true Seed’ because all causality and manifestation depend on Him while He remains free of pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discernment (viveka): meditate on the Ātman as distinct from bīja-yoni (Prakṛtic generation), fixing awareness on Pati (Śiva) as the seedless ground of liberation.