Shloka 11

विष्णुरुवाच—एकाक्षर-प्रणव-लिङ्ग-व्याप्ति-शिवस्तोत्रम्

Devanagari script

संस्थितायाम्भसां मध्ये आवयोर्मध्यवर्चसे गोप्त्रे हर्त्रे सदा कर्त्रे निधनायेश्वराय च

Transliteration

saṃsthitāyāmbhasāṃ madhye āvayormadhyavarcase goptre hartre sadā kartre nidhanāyeśvarāya ca

Translation

水のただ中に住まうイーシュヴァラに、また我ら二者の間に輝く内なる光に、敬礼いたします。護り手にして収め取り手、常に為す作者、そして最後の融解（滅尽）の主に、敬礼いたします。

Word by Word

• saṃsthitāya: abiding/established

• ambhasām: of the waters (primordial waters)

• madhye: in the middle/within

• āvayoḥ: of us two (both of us)

• madhya-varcase: to the midmost splendour/inner radiance

• goptre: to the protector

• hartre: to the remover/withdrawer

• sadā: always

• kartre: to the doer/creator/agent

• nidhanāya: to dissolution/end

• īśvarāya: to the Lord (Pati)

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta (narrating an internal stuti attributed to Brahma and Vishnu, contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva (the Linga’s reality) as the immanent Pati—present within the cosmic waters and within all beings—worthy of worship as protector, withdrawer, and the final dissolution beyond all forms.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as the inner splendor between opposites (e.g., Brahma and Vishnu), simultaneously sustaining (goptṛ), withdrawing (hartṛ), acting as the cosmic agent (kartṛ), and ending the cycle (nidhanāya) while remaining Īśvara.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports dhyāna-oriented stuti: meditating on Shiva as the inner light (madhya-varcas) and offering praise that dissolves pasha (bondage) by recognizing Pati as the indwelling Lord.