Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

प्रकृतिस्तस्य पत्नी च पुरुषो लिङ्गमुच्यते वक्त्राद्वै ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे ब्रह्मा च भगवान्प्रभुः

Transliteration

prakṛtistasya patnī ca puruṣo liṅgamucyate vaktrādvai brāhmaṇāḥ sarve brahmā ca bhagavānprabhuḥ

Translation

ಪ್ರಕೃತಿ ಅವನ ಪತ್ನಿ ಎಂದು ಘೋಷಿತ; ಪುರುಷನು ಲಿಂಗವೆಂದು—ಪರಮ ಚಿಹ್ನೆಯೆಂದು—ಕಥಿತ. ಅವನ ಮುಖದಿಂದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರು ಉದ್ಭವಿಸಿದರು; ಅಲ್ಲಿ থেকেই ಭಗವಾನ್ ಪ್ರಭು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನೂ ಪ್ರಕಟನಾದನು.

Word by Word

• prakṛtiḥ: Prakṛti (primordial Nature/Śakti)

• tasya: of Him (the Supreme/Pati)

• patnī: consort

• ca: and

• puruṣaḥ: Puruṣa (pure Consciousness)

• liṅgam: Liṅga (mark/sign, the aniconic emblem of Śiva-tattva)

• ucyate: is said/declared

• vaktrāt: from the mouth/face

• vai: indeed

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brāhmaṇas (priestly order)

• sarve: all

• brahmā: Brahmā (cosmic creator)

• ca: and

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• prabhuḥ: lord/sovereign

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga account of creation and manifestation to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti (Prakriti)
• Purusha
• Brahma
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It frames the Liṅga as Puruṣa—pure consciousness—while Prakṛti is His Śakti; thus worship of the Liṅga is worship of Śiva as Pati, the transcendent principle behind creation.

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

Śiva-tattva is indicated as Puruṣa identified with the Liṅga, the supreme sign beyond form, while Prakṛti functions as His power (Śakti) through which manifestation proceeds.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Liṅga-upāsanā grounded in tattva-jñāna: meditating on the Liṅga as Puruṣa (Pati) and recognizing Prakṛti as Śakti—an inner alignment foundational to Pāśupata-oriented contemplation and Śiva-pūjā.