Shloka 22

नैमिषारण्ये सूतागमनम् — लिङ्गमाहात्म्यभूमिका तथा शब्दब्रह्म-ओङ्कार-लिङ्गतत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

तमसा कालरुद्राख्यं रजसा कनकाण्डजम् सत्त्वेन सर्वगं विष्णुं निर्गुणत्वे महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

tamasā kālarudrākhyaṃ rajasā kanakāṇḍajam sattvena sarvagaṃ viṣṇuṃ nirguṇatve maheśvaram

Translation

తమోగుణంలో ఆయన కాలరుద్రుడని, రజోగుణంలో కనకాండజుడు (హిరణ్యగర్భ-బ్రహ్మ) అని, సత్త్వగుణంలో సర్వవ్యాపి విష్ణువని; గుణాతీత స్థితిలో మహేశ్వరుడని పిలువబడతాడు.

Word by Word

• तमसा: by tamas (inertia/darkness)

• कालरुद्राख्यम्: called Kālarudra (Rudra as Time)

• रजसा: by rajas (activity/passion)

• कनकाण्डजम्: born from the golden egg (Hiraṇyagarbha/Brahmā)

• सत्त्वेन: by sattva (purity/illumination)

• सर्वगम्: all-pervading

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu

• निर्गुणत्वे: in the state of being beyond the guṇas

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (the Great Lord, Pati)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Rudra
• Maheshvara

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as devotion to the one Pati who appears as Rudra, Brahmā, and Viṣṇu through the guṇas, yet is truly the nirguṇa Maheśvara—thus the Linga points to the transcendent Lord beyond all forms.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as nirguṇa (beyond sattva-rajas-tamas) while also functioning as the inner governor of cosmic roles; the guṇa-based deities are modes of manifestation, but Maheśvara remains the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: purify and transcend the guṇas through japa, dhyāna, and Linga-pūjā so the pashu (soul) loosens pasha (bondage) and abides in the recognition of nirguṇa Shiva.