Shloka 136

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

चतुःषष्ट्यात्मतत्त्वाय पुनरष्टविधाय ते गुणाष्टकवृतायैव गुणिने निर्गुणाय ते

Transliteration

catuḥṣaṣṭyātmatattvāya punaraṣṭavidhāya te guṇāṣṭakavṛtāyaiva guṇine nirguṇāya te

Translation

அறுபத்துநான்கு ஆத்மத் தத்துவங்களாக வெளிப்படும் பரமாத்மாவுக்கு வணக்கம்; மீண்டும் அஷ்டவிதமாகத் தோன்றும் உமக்கும் நமஸ்காரம். அஷ்டகுணங்களால் சூழப்பட்டவரும், குணங்களின் அதிபதியும், குணாதீதனும் ஆகிய—பாசத்திலிருந்து பசுவை விடுவிக்கும் பதி சிவனுக்கு வணக்கம்.

Word by Word

• चतुःषष्टि (catuḥṣaṣṭi): sixty-four

• आत्मतत्त्वाय (ātma-tattvāya): to the Self-principle / to the reality of the Self

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

• अष्टविधाय (aṣṭa-vidhāya): to the eightfold form / eightfold manifestation

• ते (te): to You

• गुणाष्टक (guṇāṣṭaka): the eight guṇas

• वृताय (vṛtāya): enveloped, covered

• एव (eva): indeed

• गुणिने (guṇine): to the possessor/lord of qualities

• निर्गुणाय (nirguṇāya): to the quality-less, beyond attributes

• ते (te): to You

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva-stuti within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Liṅga as Shiva’s supreme reality: immanent in manifest principles (tattvas and guṇas) yet ultimately nirguṇa, guiding worship from outer form to inner realization.

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

Shiva is simultaneously the ground of multiple tattva-systems (sixty-four and eightfold), the master of qualities, and also guṇātīta—beyond all attributes—thus Pati who can cut the bonds (pāśa) of the soul (paśu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It implies Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: meditate on Shiva as both saguna (accessible through Liṅga-pūjā) and nirguṇa (realized through tattva-viveka and inner absorption).