Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

पृष्ठतः पार्श्वतश्चैव चाग्रतः परमेश्वरम् प्रणिपत्य मया सार्धं सस्मार किमिदं त्विति

Transliteration

pṛṣṭhataḥ pārśvataścaiva cāgrataḥ parameśvaram praṇipatya mayā sārdhaṃ sasmāra kimidaṃ tviti

Translation

వెనుక నుంచి, పక్కల నుంచి, ముందునుంచి—పరమేశ్వరునికి—నాతో కలిసి నమస్కరించి అతడు మనసులో తలచాడు: “ఇది నిజంగా ఏమిటి?”

Word by Word

• pṛṣṭhataḥ: from behind

• pārśvataḥ: from the sides

• ca eva: and indeed

• ca agrataḥ: and from the front

• parameśvaram: to the Supreme Lord (Śiva as Pati)

• praṇipatya: having prostrated/bowed down

• mayā sārdham: along with me

• sasmāra: he pondered/remembered (inwardly reflected)

• kim: what

• idam: this

• tu: indeed

• iti: thus

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the episode, with an internal character described as bowing and wondering at the Linga/Parameśvara)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights praṇipāta (total prostration) to Parameśvara and the reverent inquiry before the manifested Linga—devotion joined with contemplative discernment, a core mood of Linga-pūjā.

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

Śiva is addressed as Parameśvara (Pati), the Supreme Lord who stands beyond ordinary grasp; the bowing from all directions and the question “What is this?” indicate His transcendence and the Linga’s mystery as a theophany.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Praṇipāta (humble surrender) coupled with mananā/saṃsmaraṇa (inner reflection), aligning with Pāśupata discipline where the paśu approaches the Pati through devotion and inquiry that loosens pāśa (bondage).