Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

चरणौ चैव पातालं समुद्रस्तस्य चांबरम् देवास्तस्य भुजाः सर्वे नक्षत्राणि च भूषणम्

Transliteration

caraṇau caiva pātālaṃ samudrastasya cāṃbaram devāstasya bhujāḥ sarve nakṣatrāṇi ca bhūṣaṇam

Translation

ಪಾತಾಳವೇ ಅವನ ಪಾದಗಳು; ಸಮುದ್ರವೇ ಅವನ ವಸ್ತ್ರ. ಎಲ್ಲ ದೇವತೆಗಳು ಅವನ ಭುಜಗಳು; ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಗಳು ಅವನ ಆಭರಣಗಳು.

Word by Word

• चरणौ (caraṇau): the two feet

• चैव (caiva): and indeed

• पातालम् (pātālam): the netherworlds (Pātāla)

• समुद्रः (samudraḥ): the ocean

• तस्य (tasya): of Him

• च (ca): and

• अम्बरम् (ambaram): garment/raiment/sky-cloth

• देवाः (devāḥ): the gods

• तस्य (tasya): of Him

• भुजाः (bhujāḥ): arms

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• नक्षत्राणि (nakṣatrāṇi): the lunar mansions/constellations

• च (ca): and

• भूषणम् (bhūṣaṇam): ornament/adornment

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It supports Linga-upasana by training the mind to see all realms as pervaded by Shiva (Pati), so worship is not confined to a place or object but becomes all-encompassing contemplation centered on the Linga as the sign of the Infinite.

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

Shiva is presented as the immanent ground of the cosmos: worlds, oceans, Devas, and stars are His very limbs and ornaments—indicating His sovereignty as Pati, with the universe functioning within Him rather than apart from Him.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative limb of Pashupata-oriented practice: Virat-dhyana (cosmic-form meditation), where the practitioner dissolves limited identity (pashu-bhava) by visualizing the entire universe as Shiva’s body while offering mental worship.