Shloka 79

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

अग्निरिन्द्रस् तथा विष्णुर् मित्रो देवः प्रजापतिः आधिदैविकमेवं हि चतुर्दशविधं क्रमात्

Transliteration

agnirindras tathā viṣṇur mitro devaḥ prajāpatiḥ ādhidaivikamevaṃ hi caturdaśavidhaṃ kramāt

Translation

Agni, Indra, Viṣṇu, Mitra, Deva et Prajāpati : ainsi, selon la juste succession, l’ordre divin présidant (ādhidaivika) est enseigné comme quatorzefold. Dans l’intelligence śaiva, ce sont des régents fonctionnels au sein de la māyā, tandis que le Pati, Śiva, demeure le Seigneur transcendant, au-delà de toute énumération.

Word by Word

• अग्निः: Agni (fire-deity)

• इन्द्रः: Indra (lord of the devas)

• तथा: and

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu (all-pervading deity)

• मित्रः: Mitra (deity of friendship/covenant, solar aspect)

• देवः: Deva (the divine one

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati (lord of progeny/creation)

• आधिदैविकम्: pertaining to presiding deities (adhidaiva level)

• एवम्: thus

• हि: indeed

• चतुर्दश-विधम्: fourteenfold in kinds

• क्रमात्: in order/sequence.

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Indra
• Vishnu
• Mitra
• Deva
• Prajapati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as governed by presiding deities (ādhidaivika) in a structured order; Linga-worship directs the devotee beyond these delegated powers to Śiva as Pati, the ultimate refuge and source of all divine functions.

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

By listing the ādhidaivika powers as a counted set, it implicitly contrasts them with Śiva-tattva: Śiva is not merely one presiding function but the transcendent Lord who empowers and surpasses the entire fourteenfold divine administration.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is contemplative discipline: in Pāśupata-oriented practice, one recognizes devas as adhidaiva supports within bondage (pāśa) and turns the mind through japa and Linga-upāsanā toward Pati (Śiva), the liberator of the paśu (soul).