Shloka 24

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

क्ष्मा सा पञ्चगुणा तस्माद् एकोना रससम्भवाः त्रिगुणो भगवान्वह्निर् द्विगुणः स्पर्शसम्भवः

Transliteration

kṣmā sā pañcaguṇā tasmād ekonā rasasambhavāḥ triguṇo bhagavānvahnir dviguṇaḥ sparśasambhavaḥ

Translation

ಪೃಥ್ವಿ ಐದು ಗುಣಗಳನ್ನೊಳಗೊಂಡಿದೆ. ಅದರಿಂದ ರಸ-ಸಂಭವವಾದ ಆಪಃ (ಜಲ) ಉದ್ಭವಿಸುತ್ತದೆ; ಅದು ಒಂದು ಗುಣ ಕಡಿಮೆ. ಭಗವಾನ್ ವಹ್ನಿ ಮೂರು ಗುಣಗಳವನು; ಸ್ಪರ್ಶದಿಂದ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ ವಾಯು ಎರಡು ಗುಣಗಳವನು—ಈ ರೀತಿ ಪ್ರಭುವಿನ ಕ್ರಮದಿಂದ ಸ್ಥೂಲ ತತ್ತ್ವಗಳು ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗುತ್ತವೆ.

Word by Word

• क्ष्मा: earth

• सा: that (element)

• पञ्चगुणा: possessing five qualities

• तस्मात्: from that

• एकोना: lacking one (quality)

• रससम्भवाः: born from taste (i.e., water arising with taste)

• त्रिगुणः: possessing three qualities

• भगवान्: venerable/lordly (as a cosmic principle)

• वह्निः: fire

• द्विगुणः: possessing two qualities

• स्पर्शसम्भवः: born from touch (i.e., air arising with touch)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmological teaching within the Linga Purana framework)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vayu
• Prithvi
• Ap (Water)

FAQs

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

It frames the world as a structured unfolding of tattvas; Linga worship then becomes a return-to-source practice, purifying the bhūtas and directing the pashu (soul) toward Pati (Shiva) beyond the elements.

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

By presenting a lawful sequence in elemental manifestation, it implies an intelligent governor of creation—Pati—whose order underlies the bhūtas, while Shiva-tattva remains transcendent to their guṇas and limitations.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Bhūta-śuddhi (elemental purification) and tattva-vicāra used in Shaiva and Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā—contemplating how sensory qualities (touch, taste, etc.) arise and are withdrawn back into Shiva.