Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

त्रयोदशकलायुक्तं बालाद्यैः सह लोहितम् सामोद्भवं जगत्याद्यं वृद्धिसंहारकारणम्

Transliteration

trayodaśakalāyuktaṃ bālādyaiḥ saha lohitam sāmodbhavaṃ jagatyādyaṃ vṛddhisaṃhārakāraṇam

Translation

त्रयोदशकलायुक्तं बालाद्यैः सह लोहितम् । सामोद्भवं जगत्याद्यं वृद्धिसंहारकारणम् ॥

Word by Word

• त्रयोदश-कलायुक्तम्: endowed with thirteen kalās (phases/powers)

• बालाद्यैः: with the child-form and the other forms

• सह: along with

• लोहितम्: red, crimson, radiant

• सामोद्भवम्: self-arisen, spontaneously manifested (svayambhū)

• जगत्याद्यम्: primordial to the world, the first cause of the universe

• वृद्धिसंहारकारणम्: the cause of increase/manifestation and destruction/dissolution

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, describing the manifested Linga/Śiva-tattva)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga as svayambhū (self-manifest) and as the cosmic engine of both sṛṣṭi (expansion) and saṃhāra (withdrawal), making Linga-pūjā worship of Pati himself rather than a merely symbolic icon.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as the primordial reality (jagaty-ādya) endowed with multiple kalās (operative powers) and capable of manifesting diverse modes (child and other forms), while remaining the single cause behind growth and dissolution.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative upāsanā is implied: meditating on the svayambhū Linga as Pati who governs vṛddhi and saṃhāra—supporting Pāśupata Yoga’s aim of loosening pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul) through God-centered absorption.