Shloka 78

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

आदित्यो ऽपि दिशश्चैव पृथिवी वरुणस् तथा वायुश्चन्द्रस् तथा ब्रह्मा रुद्रः क्षेत्रज्ञ एव च

Transliteration

ādityo 'pi diśaścaiva pṛthivī varuṇas tathā vāyuścandras tathā brahmā rudraḥ kṣetrajña eva ca

Translation

आदित्योऽपि दिशश्चैव पृथिवी वरुणस्तथा। वायुश्चन्द्रस्तथा ब्रह्मा रुद्रः क्षेत्रज्ञ एव च॥

Word by Word

• ādityaḥ: the Sun (solar deity)

• api: also/indeed

• diśaḥ: the directions/quarters

• ca eva: and indeed

• pṛthivī: the earth

• varuṇaḥ: Varuṇa (lord of waters/cosmic order)

• tathā: likewise

• vāyuḥ: the wind/prāṇa principle

• candraḥ: the moon

• tathā: likewise

• brahmā: Brahmā (creator)

• rudraḥ: Rudra (the fierce form of Śiva)

• kṣetrajñaḥ: the Knower of the field (inner witness)

• eva: verily

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Aditya
• Dik (Directions)
• Prithivi
• Varuna
• Vayu
• Chandra
• Brahma
• Rudra
• Kshetrajna (Inner Witness)

FAQs

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

It establishes that the Linga signifies the all-pervading Pati: worship is not limited to one deity-form, but honors Śiva as present in the Sun, Moon, elements, directions, and as the inner Witness.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as sarvadevatātmaka and antaryāmin: the same reality appears as cosmic powers (Āditya, Vāyu, Varuṇa, etc.) and also as Kṣetrajña, the conscious Knower within every kṣetra (body-mind field).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied practice is Pāśupata-oriented contemplation (bhāvanā) and jñāna in which the sādhaka recognizes the Kṣetrajña as Śiva, loosening pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul) through inner identification with the Pati.