Shloka 2

Devanagari script

दिवा सृष्टिं विकुरुते रजन्यां प्रलयं विभुः औपचारिकमस्यैतद् अहोरात्रं न विद्यते

Transliteration

divā sṛṣṭiṃ vikurute rajanyāṃ pralayaṃ vibhuḥ aupacārikamasyaitad ahorātraṃ na vidyate

Translation

दिन में सर्वव्यापी प्रभु सृष्टि का विस्तार करते हैं और रात्रि में उसे प्रलय में लीन कर देते हैं। पर उनके लिए यह दिन-रात का भेद केवल उपचार मात्र है; उनके परम स्वरूप में दिन-रात नहीं है।

Word by Word

• दिवा (divā): by day

• सृष्टिम् (sṛṣṭim): creation/emanation

• विकुरुते (vikurute): fashions, manifests

• रजन्याम् (rajanyām): by night

• प्रलयम् (pralayam): dissolution, reabsorption

• विभुः (vibhuḥ): the all-pervading Lord (Pati)

• औपचारिकम् (aupacārikam): figurative, conventional expression

• अस्य (asya): of Him

• एतत् (etat): this

• अहोरात्रम् (ahorātram): day-and-night cycle

• न (na): not

• विद्यते (vidyate): exists/is found

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmological doctrine to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva, worshipped as the Linga, is beyond time; ritual timings (day/night) are helpful conventions, while true Linga-upasana aims at realizing the timeless Pati who transcends all cycles.

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

Shiva is Vibhu—omnipresent and sovereign over srishti and pralaya—yet untouched by temporal divisions; day/night are only descriptive labels for His cosmic functions, not attributes limiting His being.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative Pashupata orientation is implied: meditate on the Lord as the timeless Pati, using cosmic rhythms as supports, then transcending them in inner worship (manasa-puja) and samadhi.