Shloka 19

Adhyaya 75: Nishkala–Sakala Shiva, Twofold Linga, and the Supremacy of Dhyana-Yajna

Devanagari script

लिङ्गं तु द्विविधं प्राहुर् बाह्यमाभ्यन्तरं द्विजाः बाह्यं स्थूलं मुनिश्रेष्ठाः सूक्ष्ममाभ्यन्तरं द्विजाः

Transliteration

liṅgaṃ tu dvividhaṃ prāhur bāhyamābhyantaraṃ dvijāḥ bāhyaṃ sthūlaṃ muniśreṣṭhāḥ sūkṣmamābhyantaraṃ dvijāḥ

Translation

ദ്വിജർ പറയുന്നു: ലിംഗം രണ്ടു വിധം—ബാഹ്യവും ആഭ്യന്തരവും. ഹേ മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠാ, ബാഹ്യ ലിംഗം സ്ഥൂലം; ഹേ ദ്വിജാ, ആഭ്യന്തര ലിംഗം സൂക്ഷ്മം, അന്തർസാക്ഷാത്കാരത്തിൽ അറിയപ്പെടുന്നത്.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गम् (liṅgam): the Liṅga, the emblem/sign of Śiva

• तु (tu): indeed

• द्विविधम् (dvividham): twofold

• प्राहुः (prāhuḥ): they declare

• बाह्यम् (bāhyam): external

• आभ्यन्तरम् (ābhyantaram): internal, inward

• द्विजाः (dvijāḥ): the twice-born (initiated)

• बाह्यम् (bāhyam): external

• स्थूलम् (sthūlam): gross, tangible

• मुनिश्रेष्ठाः (muniśreṣṭhāḥ): O best of sages

• सूक्ष्मम् (sūkṣmam): subtle

• आभ्यन्तरम् (ābhyantaram): internal.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes a two-tier Shaiva practice: the gross, external Liṅga for ritual worship (bahya-puja) and the subtle, internal Liṅga for contemplative realization (antaryaga), showing that true devotion integrates both.

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

Shiva as Pati is approachable as a manifest support for devotion (the external, tangible Liṅga) and as the subtle reality within (the internal Liṅga), indicating transcendence beyond form while remaining accessible through sacred form.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It points to outer Liṅga-puja (archana, abhisheka) alongside inner worship through dhyana and subtle contemplation—aligned with Pashupata-oriented interiorization of Shiva as the indwelling presence.