Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

अद्भिर् दशगुणाभिस्तु बाह्यतो ऽण्डं समावृतम् आपो दशगुणेनैतास् तेजसा बाह्यतो वृताः

Transliteration

adbhir daśaguṇābhistu bāhyato 'ṇḍaṃ samāvṛtam āpo daśaguṇenaitās tejasā bāhyato vṛtāḥ

Translation

ബ്രഹ്മാണ്ഡ അണ്ഡം പുറത്തുനിന്ന് പത്തിരട്ടിയായ ജലത്താൽ പൊതിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു; ആ ജലവും വീണ്ടും പത്തിരട്ടിയായ തേജസ് (അഗ്നി) കൊണ്ട് പുറത്തുനിന്ന് ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अद्भिः (adbhīḥ): by waters

• दशगुणाभिः (daśa-guṇābhiḥ): tenfold (in extent/measure)

• तु (tu): indeed

• बाह्यतः (bāhyataḥ): outwardly, on the outside

• अण्डम् (aṇḍam): the cosmic egg, brahmāṇḍa

• समावृतम् (samāvṛtam): completely enclosed, covered

• आपः (āpaḥ): the waters

• दशगुणेन (daśa-guṇena): by a tenfold measure

• एताः (etāḥ): these (waters)

• तेजसा (tejasā): by fire, radiance/heat

• बाह्यतः (bāhyataḥ): externally

• वृताः (vṛtāḥ): surrounded, encompassed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmic order to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

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

It frames the brahmāṇḍa as a layered enclosure, encouraging the Linga-upāsaka to contemplate that all created sheaths are limited coverings, while the Linga signifies Mahādeva (Pati) who transcends them.

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

By detailing successive cosmic coverings (water, then fire), it implies a hierarchy of tattvic limitation; Shiva-tattva is understood as beyond these enclosures—uncovered, self-luminous, and not contained by the brahmāṇḍa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative practice (dhyāna) on cosmic layers supporting vairāgya: the Pashu (soul) recognizes the āvaraṇas as pasha-like limitations and turns inward toward Pati through Linga-dhyāna rather than clinging to external realms.