Shloka 37

Adhyaya 75: Nishkala–Sakala Shiva, Twofold Linga, and the Supremacy of Dhyana-Yajna

Devanagari script

तमेकमाहुर्द्विगुणं च केचित् केचित्तमाहुस्त्रिगुणात्मकं च ऊचुस् तथा तं च शिवं तथान्ये संसारिणं वेदविदो वदन्ति

Transliteration

tamekamāhurdviguṇaṃ ca kecit kecittamāhustriguṇātmakaṃ ca ūcus tathā taṃ ca śivaṃ tathānye saṃsāriṇaṃ vedavido vadanti

Translation

ヴェーダを知る者たちは、彼についてさまざまに語る。ある者は「ただ一なる者」と言い、ある者は「二重の力を具える者」と説き、またある者は「三グナの本性」と呼ぶ。ある者は彼をシヴァ（Śiva）と宣し、またある者は輪廻（サンサーラ）において動く者とさえ述べる—かくして学匠は各々の立場に従って語る。

Word by Word

• तम् (tam): Him

• एकम् (ekam): the One, non-dual

• आहुः (āhuḥ): say, declare

• द्विगुणम् (dviguṇam): twofold in qualities/powers

• च (ca): and

• केचित् (kecit): some

• त्रिगुणात्मकम् (triguṇātmakaṃ): having the nature of the three guṇas (sattva-rajas-tamas)

• ऊचुः (ūcuḥ): said

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• शिवम् (śivam): Śiva, the auspicious Lord (Pati)

• अन्ये (anye): others

• संसारिणम् (saṃsāriṇam): as a transmigrating/saṃsāra-involved one (as imputed by limited vision)

• वेदविदः (vedavidaḥ): knowers of the Veda

• वदन्ति (vadanti): speak, assert

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, summarizing Vedic viewpoints)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It explains why the Linga can be worshipped as the One Supreme (Pati) even when scriptures describe Him with different attributes—devotees fix the mind on Shiva as the single reality behind all names and guṇic descriptions.

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

It presents Shiva as ultimately One, yet spoken of as dviguṇa or triguṇātmaka from relative standpoints—Shaiva Siddhanta reads this as the difference between Shiva’s transcendent nature (beyond guṇas) and His immanent governance of guṇas for the sake of pashus bound by pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is yogic discernment (viveka) used in Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: do not mistake guṇic manifestations for the Lord’s essence; meditate on Shiva as Pati who rules saṃsāra without being bound by it.