Shloka 1

अघोरस्य प्रादुर्भावः कुमारकचतुष्टयं च योगमार्गः

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच ततस्तस्मिन्गते कल्पे पीतवर्णे स्वयंभुवः पुनरन्यः प्रवृत्तस्तु कल्पो नाम्नासितस्तु सः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca tatastasmingate kalpe pītavarṇe svayaṃbhuvaḥ punaranyaḥ pravṛttastu kalpo nāmnāsitastu saḥ

Translation

സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—സ്വയംഭൂ ബ്രഹ്മാവിന്റെ സ്വർണവർണ്ണം കൊണ്ടു ചിഹ്നിതമായ ആ കല്പം കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ, പിന്നെ മറ്റൊരു കല്പം ആരംഭിച്ചു; അത് ഒരു പ്രത്യേക നാമത്തിൽ അറിയപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• ततः: then/thereafter

• तस्मिन्: in that

• गते: having gone/passed

• कल्पे: in the kalpa/aeon

• पीतवर्णे: of golden/yellow hue

• स्वयंभुवः: of the Self-born (Brahmā)

• पुनः: again

• अन्यः: another

• प्रवृत्तः: began/commenced

• तु: indeed/then

• कल्पः: kalpa/aeon

• नाम्ना: by name

• आसीत्: was/was known

• तु: indeed

• सः: that (kalpa)

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Svayambhuva (Brahma)

FAQs

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

It frames Linga worship within cyclical time (kalpas): the forms of creation and the modes of devotion recur across aeons under Shiva as Pati, the constant reality behind changing worlds.

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

By emphasizing the passing of kalpas and the rise of new ones, it implies Shiva-tattva as the timeless ground beyond cosmic cycles—Pati who remains while manifested orders appear and dissolve.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi or Pāśupata Yoga limb is stated here; the verse functions as cosmological narration preparing the listener for later Shaiva sādhanā taught within recurring creation cycles.