Shloka 18

आभ्यन्तरध्यान-तत्त्वगणना-चतुर्व्यूहयोगः

Adhyaya 28

Devanagari script

सूक्ष्मं वदन्ति ऋषयो यन्न वाच्यं द्विजोत्तमाः यतो वाचो निवर्तन्ते अप्राप्य मनसा सह

Transliteration

sūkṣmaṃ vadanti ṛṣayo yanna vācyaṃ dvijottamāḥ yato vāco nivartante aprāpya manasā saha

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജോത്തമാ! ഋഷിമാർ ആ തത്ത്വത്തെ പരമ സൂക്ഷ്മമെന്ന് പറയുന്നു; അത് വാക്കുകളാൽ പറയാനാവാത്തത്. അതിനെ പ്രാപിക്കാതെ വാക്ക് മടങ്ങുന്നു; മനസ്സും കൂടെ പ്രാപിക്കാതെ മടങ്ങിപ്പോകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• सूक्ष्मम्: extremely subtle

• वदन्ति: declare/say

• ऋषयः: the seers

• यत्: which/that

• न: not

• वाच्यम्: expressible by speech

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best among the twice-born (brahmins)

• यतः: from which/because of which

• वाचः: words/speech

• निवर्तन्ते: turn back/withdraw

• अप्राप्य: without reaching/attaining

• मनसा: by the mind/with the mind

• सह: along with/also

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga as the sign of an ineffable, subtle Pati (Shiva) who cannot be captured by speech or thought—so worship is directed toward realization and reverent approach to the transcendent, not mere description.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as sūkṣma (subtle) and anirvacanīya (inexpressible): even vāk (speech) and manas (mind) withdraw, indicating the Lord as beyond conceptual grasp while remaining the supreme ground of all.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes inward Pashupata-oriented contemplation—stilling speech and mind (pratyāhāra/dhyāna) so the pashu (soul) may move beyond pāśa (bondage) toward direct orientation to Pati (Shiva).