Shloka 18

Adhyaya 50 — देवपुर्यः, पुराणि, आयतनानि च; श्रीकण्ठाधिपत्य-प्रतिपादनम्

Devanagari script

श्रीकण्ठस्याधिपत्यं वै सर्वदेवेश्वरस्य च अण्डस्यास्य प्रवृत्तिस्तु श्रीकण्ठेन न संशयः

Transliteration

śrīkaṇṭhasyādhipatyaṃ vai sarvadeveśvarasya ca aṇḍasyāsya pravṛttistu śrīkaṇṭhena na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

まことに、主権はシュリーカンṭha、すなわち一切の神々の主に属する。この宇宙卵（アṇḍa）の展開と働きは、疑いなくシュリーカンṭhaより起こる。

Word by Word

• śrīkaṇṭhasya: of Śrīkaṇṭha (Shiva, ‘the Auspicious-throated’)

• ādhipatyam: lordship, sovereignty

• vai: indeed, certainly

• sarva-deva-īśvarasya: of the Lord of all deities

• ca: and

• aṇḍasya: of the cosmic egg (universe)

• asya: of this

• pravṛttiḥ: activity, manifestation, unfolding

• tu: indeed/then (emphatic)

• śrīkaṇṭhena: by Śrīkaṇṭha

• na: not

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Srikantha

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-worship in the principle that Shiva (Śrīkaṇṭha) is the supreme governor (Pati) from whom the universe’s activity (pravṛtti) proceeds; worship of the Linga is thus worship of the cosmic source and ruler.

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

Shiva is presented as Sarvadeveśvara—the Lord even of the gods—and as the decisive cause behind the universe’s unfolding, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s view of Pati as the supreme, independent controller who directs manifestation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this line; the takeaway for Puja and Pashupata Yoga is contemplative recognition (bhāvanā) that all cosmic processes arise under Shiva’s lordship, strengthening devotion and surrender to Pati.