Shloka 6

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

तेभ्यः प्रधानदेवानां त्रयमासीच्छिवात्मकम् एकस्मात्त्रिष्वभूद्विश्वम् एकेन परिरक्षितम्

Transliteration

tebhyaḥ pradhānadevānāṃ trayamāsīcchivātmakam ekasmāttriṣvabhūdviśvam ekena parirakṣitam

Translation

ആ പ്രധാന ദേവന്മാരിൽ നിന്ന് ശിവസ്വരൂപമായ ത്രയം ഉദ്ഭവിച്ചു. ഏകത്തിൽ നിന്നു ലോകം ത്രിവിധമായി പ്രകടമായി; ആ ഏകനാൽ തന്നെയാണ് അത് പരിരക്ഷിതവും പോഷിതവും.

Word by Word

• तेभ्यः: from them/from those (causes)

• प्रधान-देवानाम्: of the chief gods/principal deities

• त्रयम्: the triad (threefold principle)

• आसीत्: came to be/was

• शिव-आत्मकम्: having Śiva as its very Self/Śiva in essence

• एकस्मात्: from the One

• त्रिषु: in/into three (as a triad/three functions)

• अभूत्: became/arose

• विश्वम्: the universe

• एकेन: by the One alone

• परिरक्षितम्: fully protected/sustained/guarded

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s teaching to the sages; doctrinal statement embedded in the srishti narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga worship in non-dual Shaiva theology: the Linga signifies the One Pati (Śiva) from whom the cosmic triad and all functions arise, and by whom the cosmos is upheld—so worship is directed to the root-cause, not merely to a secondary deity.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as the single, supreme principle that appears as a threefold cosmic operation (often read as creation, maintenance, dissolution) while remaining the One protector—Śiva as the inner Self (śivātmakatā) of the principal gods.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata orientation: contemplation (bhāvanā) of the One Pati within all divine forms and functions—supporting ekāgratā in japa/dhyāna on the Linga as the sign of the One sustaining reality.