Shloka 43

Devanagari script

अर्धनारीश्वरो भूत्वा बालार्कसदृशद्युतिः तदैकादशधात्मानं प्रविभज्य व्यवस्थितः

Transliteration

ardhanārīśvaro bhūtvā bālārkasadṛśadyutiḥ tadaikādaśadhātmānaṃ pravibhajya vyavasthitaḥ

Translation

അർധനാരീശ്വരനായി, ഉദയസൂര്യനെപ്പോലെ ദീപ്തനായി, അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ ആത്മാവിനെ ഏകാദശ രൂപങ്ങളായി വിഭജിച്ച് ഉറച്ചുനിന്നു.

Word by Word

• अर्धनारीश्वरः: Ardhanārīśvara (the Lord as half-female, half-male)

• भूत्वा: having become

• बालार्क-सदृश-द्युतिः: possessing splendor like the young/rising sun

• तदा: then

• एकादशधा: in elevenfold manner

• आत्मानम्: His own Self/essence

• प्रविभज्य: having divided/differentiated

• व्यवस्थितः: remained established/abided in ordered state

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; describing Shiva’s cosmic act)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Ardhanarishvara

FAQs

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

It frames Linga theology as the unity of Shiva and Shakti (Ardhanārīśvara) from which Shiva’s ordered manifestations arise; Linga worship thus honors the transcendent Pati who becomes immanent without losing sovereignty.

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

Shiva is shown as Pati: self-luminous, complete, and capable of manifesting multiple forms (elevenfold) while remaining ‘vyavasthita’—unchanged in essence, the ground of order and creation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse primarily teaches contemplative upāsanā: meditate on Ardhanārīśvara’s non-dual Shiva–Shakti unity and on the Ekādaśa manifestations (often associated with Rudra principles) as a Pāśupata-oriented vision of Pati governing pasha-bound pashus.