Shloka 17

नैमिषारण्ये सूतागमनम् — लिङ्गमाहात्म्यभूमिका तथा शब्दब्रह्म-ओङ्कार-लिङ्गतत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

अभिवाद्याग्रतो धीमान् नारदं ब्रह्मणः सुतम् नैमिषेयांश्च पुण्यात्मा पुराणं व्याजहार सः

Transliteration

abhivādyāgrato dhīmān nāradaṃ brahmaṇaḥ sutam naimiṣeyāṃśca puṇyātmā purāṇaṃ vyājahāra saḥ

Translation

賢者ナーラダ（梵天の御子）と、眼前に集うナイミシャーラニヤの清浄なる聖仙たちに恭しく礼拝してのち、その清らかな語り手はプラーナを説き明かした。

Word by Word

• अभिवाद्य (abhivādya): having saluted, paying reverence

• अग्रतः (agrataḥ): in front, in the assembly

• धीमान् (dhīmān): wise, discerning

• नारदम् (nāradaṃ): Nārada

• ब्रह्मणः सुतम् (brahmaṇaḥ sutaṃ): the son of Brahmā

• नैमिषेयांश्च (naimiṣeyāṃś ca): and the Naimiṣeya sages (sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

• पुण्यात्मा (puṇyātmā): pure-souled, virtuous

• पुराणम् (purāṇam): the Purāṇa (ancient sacred narrative)

• व्याजहार (vyājahāra): spoke, narrated, proclaimed

• सः (saḥ): he

Speaker

Suta (Suta Goswami)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahma
• Naimisharanya Sages

FAQs

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

It establishes the sacred transmission line: the Purāṇa (which later teaches Liṅga-tattva and Liṅga-pūjā) is delivered only after reverence to the guru-sage Nārada and the Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis, emphasizing purity, authority, and proper ritual-ethical context for worship.

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

Indirectly, it frames Shiva-tattva as knowable through śāstra and sampradāya: the Pati (Lord) is approached through authorized narration, where the Purāṇa becomes a means for the Pashu (soul) to move from pāśa (bondage) toward right knowledge and devotion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Guru-vandana and śravaṇa (reverent listening) are highlighted—foundational disciplines that precede Pāśupata-oriented practice and later Liṅga-pūjā instructions in the text.