Shloka 55

Adhyaya 4: अहोरात्र-युग-मन्वन्तर-कल्पमान तथा प्रलयान्ते सृष्ट्युपक्रमः

Devanagari script

हरयश्चाप्यसंख्यातास् त्व् एक एव महेश्वरः प्रधानादिप्रवृत्तानि लीलया प्राकृतानि तु

Transliteration

harayaścāpyasaṃkhyātās tv eka eva maheśvaraḥ pradhānādipravṛttāni līlayā prākṛtāni tu

Translation

ハリと呼ばれる姿は無数であるが、ただマハーデーヴァのみが唯一の至上主、パティである。プラダーナに始まる諸展開は、ただ自然（プラークリタ）の顕現にすぎず、すべては御身のリーラーによって現れる。

Word by Word

• हरयः: the Haris (Vishnu-forms)

• च अपि: and also/indeed

• असंख्याताः: innumerable

• तु: but/yet

• एकः एव: one alone

• महेश्वरः: Maheshvara, the Great Lord (Shiva as Pati)

• प्रधान-आदि-प्रवृत्तानि: the evolutes/manifestations beginning with Pradhana

• लीलया: by (His) divine play

• प्राकृतानि: belonging to Prakriti, natural/material

• तु: indeed/only

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya, summarizing the supremacy of Maheshvara over prakritic evolutes)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-worship in tattva-viveka: the Linga signifies Maheshvara as Pati, distinct from all prākṛta (nature-born) evolutes; worship aims at the Supreme beyond Pradhana.

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

Shiva is affirmed as the one Maheshvara—unique and sovereign—while Pradhana and its products are classed as prākṛta; thus Shiva-tattva is not merely a cosmic product but the transcendent Lord who manifests by līlā.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A key Pāśupata-Yogic takeaway is discrimination (viveka): meditate on Maheshvara as Pati beyond Prakriti and its tattvas, so the pashu (soul) loosens pasha (bondage) rather than mistaking prakritic powers for the Supreme.