Shloka 2

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

प्रधानं प्रकृतिश्चेति यदाहुर्लिङ्गमुत्तमम् गन्धवर्णरसैर्हीनं शब्दस्पर्शादिवर्जितम्

Transliteration

pradhānaṃ prakṛtiśceti yadāhurliṅgamuttamam gandhavarṇarasairhīnaṃ śabdasparśādivarjitam

Translation

‘ప్రధానం’ ‘ప్రకృతి’ అని చెప్పబడే ఆ ఉత్తమ లింగము గంధ-వర్ణ-రసరహితం; శబ్ద-స్పర్శాది ఇంద్రియగ్రాహ్య లక్షణాలకూ అతీతము.

Word by Word

• प्रधानम् (pradhānam): Pradhāna, the primordial undifferentiated ground

• प्रकृतिः (prakṛtiḥ): Prakṛti, primordial Nature/power of manifestation

• च (ca): and

• इति (iti): thus

• यत् (yat): which

• आहुः (āhuḥ): they declare/call

• लिङ्गम् (liṅgam): the Linga, the sign/mark (of Śiva-tattva)

• उत्तमम् (uttamam): supreme, highest

• गन्ध (gandha): smell

• वर्ण (varṇa): color/form-hue

• रसैः (rasaiḥ): with tastes/essences

• हीनम् (hīnam): devoid of, lacking

• शब्द (śabda): sound

• स्पर्श (sparśa): touch

• आदि (ādi): and the rest (sense-objects)

• वर्जितम् (varjitam): excluded from, free of

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga not merely as a physical emblem but as the supreme sign of Śiva beyond sensory attributes—guiding the devotee from outer pūjā to inner realization of Pati as transcendent.

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

By denying smell, color, taste, sound, and touch, it points to Śiva-tattva as nirguṇa and sense-transcending, while also indicating His śakti as Prakṛti/Pradhāna through which manifestation proceeds.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It implies Pāśupata-style inward discipline: withdrawing attention from the five sense-objects (viṣayas) and meditating on the Linga as the formless ground—moving from external offerings to contemplative absorption.