Shloka 83

Adhyaya 17: लिङ्गोद्भव—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वहङ्कार-शमनं, ओंकार-प्रादुर्भावः, मन्त्र-तत्त्वं च

Devanagari script

शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं सुभाष्टत्रिंशदक्षरम् मेधाकरम् अभूद्भूयः सर्वधर्मार्थसाधकम्

Transliteration

śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśaṃ subhāṣṭatriṃśadakṣaram medhākaram abhūdbhūyaḥ sarvadharmārthasādhakam

Translation

तो पुन्हा शुद्ध स्फटिकासारखा तेजस्वी झाला—अष्टत्रिंशद् (अडतीस) अक्षरांचा शुभ (मंत्र/स्वरूप), मेधा देणारा आणि सर्व धर्म-अर्थसिद्धीचे साधन.

Word by Word

• śuddha: pure

• sphaṭika: crystal/quartz

• saṃkāśam: resembling, having the appearance of

• subha: auspicious

• aṣṭa-triṃśat: thirty-eight

• akṣaram: syllables/imperishable letters (mantric units)

• medhā-karam: producing intelligence/insight

• abhūt: became

• bhūyaḥ: again, once more

• sarva: all

• dharma: sacred duty, right order, virtue

• artha: welfare, prosperity, purposeful attainment

• sādhakam: accomplishing, effecting, a means of realization

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Linga-prādurbhāva account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links the Liṅga’s manifestation with mantra-śakti—depicting it as crystal-pure and as an auspicious, syllable-defined sacred form that becomes a practical sādhana for attaining dharma and artha through Śiva’s grace.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as purity and illumination: the Liṅga shines like flawless crystal and generates medhā, indicating Pati’s power to awaken higher discernment in the paśu and guide it beyond bondage (pāśa).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-oriented Liṅga-upāsanā is foregrounded—japa and contemplation of an auspicious, akṣara-structured mantra/form that grants medhā and supports the sādhaka’s aims in dharma and artha.