Shloka 38

प्रलय-तत्त्वलयः, नीललोहित-रुद्रः, अष्टमूर्तिस्तवः, एवं ब्रह्मणो वैराग्यम्

Devanagari script

सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तं संसुप्ते च चराचरे प्रजाः स्रष्टुमनास् तेपे तत उग्रं तपो महत्

Transliteration

sahasrayugaparyantaṃ saṃsupte ca carācare prajāḥ sraṣṭumanās tepe tata ugraṃ tapo mahat

Translation

千のユガのあいだ、動くものも動かぬものも、全宇宙が眠りに沈んだかのようであったとき、彼は衆生を生み出そうと志し、ついに大いにして峻烈なるタパスを修して、創造の力を凝集した—万有を目覚めさせるパティのもとに。

Word by Word

• सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तम्: for a thousand yugas

• संसुप्ते: in a state of deep sleep/latency

• च: and

• चराचरे: in the moving and unmoving (world)

• प्रजाः: creatures/progeny

• स्रष्टुम्: to create

• अनाः (मनाः): minded/intending

• तेपे: performed (austerity), heated himself by tapas

• ततः: then/thereafter

• उग्रम्: intense, fierce

• तपः: austerity, spiritual heat

• महत्: great

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmic creation account; internally referring to Brahma’s act of tapas)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames creation as arising from concentrated tapas after cosmic latency; in Linga theology, the Linga signifies the Pati who awakens and empowers manifestation, making worship a participation in that awakening power.

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

By implying a prior cosmic “sleep” of all beings and the need for an awakening principle, it points to Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati whose śakti enables Brahma’s creative activity and rouses the world from dissolution.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas—disciplined inner heat and one-pointed intention—is highlighted; it aligns with Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā where purification and concentration precede the outward act of creation or worship.