Shloka 119

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

आपो नाराश् च सूनव इत्यपां नाम शुश्रुमः आपूर्य ताभिर् अयनं कृतवानात्मनो यतः

Transliteration

āpo nārāś ca sūnava ityapāṃ nāma śuśrumaḥ āpūrya tābhir ayanaṃ kṛtavānātmano yataḥ

Translation

‘ആപഃ’ എന്ന ജലങ്ങൾ ‘നര’യുടെ പുത്രന്മാരായ ‘നാരാഃ’ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു എന്ന് ഞങ്ങൾ ശ്രവിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. ആ ജലങ്ങളാൽ സർവ്വവ്യാപ്തി നിറച്ച്, പ്രഭു അവയെ തന്നെ തന്റെ ശയനസ്ഥാനം (അയനം) ആക്കി; അതുകൊണ്ടാണ് അദ്ദേഹം ‘നാരായണൻ’ എന്നു അറിയപ്പെടുന്നത്।

Word by Word

• āpaḥ: waters (primordial cosmic waters)

• nārāḥ: the ‘Naras’, here understood as waters/offspring of Nara

• ca: and

• sūnavaḥ: sons, progeny

• iti: thus

• apām: of the waters

• nāma: name, designation

• śuśrumaḥ: we have heard (traditional revelation)

• āpūrya: having filled, pervading completely

• tābhiḥ: by/with those (waters)

• ayanam: resting-place, abode, couch

• kṛtavān: made, established

• ātmanaḥ: for Himself, of His own being

• yataḥ: because, from which reason.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic etymology within the cosmogonic account)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Nara
• Apah (Primordial Waters)

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-pūjā in cosmogony: the primordial waters (āpaḥ) are the first field of manifestation, and water-offerings (jala, abhiṣeka) become a symbolic return of the tattvas to the Supreme—Pati—who supports and pervades them.

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

Though the verse names Nārāyaṇa via the waters-as-abode motif, the Shaiva reading places Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati who makes the elements His “ayana” without being bound by them—remaining sovereign over pasha (bondage) and the evolving cosmos.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Water as a purifier is implied: abhiṣeka (ritual bathing of the Liṅga) and ācamana-like inner purification align with Pāśupata discipline—cleansing pasha so the pashu (soul) can recollect the Pati.