Shloka 4

अविद्या-पञ्चक, नवसर्ग-क्रमः, प्रजापति-प्रसवः

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 5

Devanagari script

अभ्यमन्यत सो ऽन्यं वै नगा मुख्योद्भवाः स्मृताः त्रिधा कण्ठो मुनेस्तस्य ध्यायतो वै ह्यवर्तत

Transliteration

abhyamanyata so 'nyaṃ vai nagā mukhyodbhavāḥ smṛtāḥ tridhā kaṇṭho munestasya dhyāyato vai hyavartata

Translation

Il conçut alors une autre intention. De cette contemplation naquirent les montagnes les plus éminentes, ainsi s’en souvient-on. Et tandis que ce sage poursuivait sa méditation, la région de sa gorge se manifesta sous une forme triple, se déployant selon sa vision intérieure.

Word by Word

• अभ्यमन्यत: he conceived/considered

• सः: he

• अन्यं: another (thought/intent)

• वै: indeed

• नगा: mountains

• मुख्य-उद्भवाः: foremost-originated / chief productions

• स्मृताः: are remembered/recorded

• त्रिधा: threefold

• कण्ठः: throat/neck-region

• मुनेः: of the sage

• तस्य: of him

• ध्यायतः: while meditating

• वै: indeed

• हि: surely

• अवर्तत: came to be/manifested/unfolded

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the creation sequence to the sages, with the inner subject being Brahma as the meditating sage)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames creation as arising from contemplative power (dhyana), a principle later mirrored in Linga-puja where focused awareness and mantra invoke the presence of Pati (Shiva) into the Linga as a locus of manifestation.

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

Though the immediate subject is the meditating creator-sage, Shaiva Siddhanta reads such srishti as occurring only by Pati’s sanction: Shiva-tattva remains the transcendent governor whose will enables manifestation, while the pashu (individual soul/agent) operates within that empowered order.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Dhyana (meditative absorption) is highlighted—an inner yogic act that becomes outwardly effective—anticipating Pashupata-oriented disciplines where concentration, japa, and contemplation purify the pashu from pasha and align it to Pati’s ordinance.