Shloka 56

Adhyaya 4: अहोरात्र-युग-मन्वन्तर-कल्पमान तथा प्रलयान्ते सृष्ट्युपक्रमः

Devanagari script

गुणात्मिका च तद्वृत्तिस् तस्य देवस्य वै त्रिधा अप्राकृतस्य तस्यादिर् मध्यान्तं नास्ति चात्मनः

Transliteration

guṇātmikā ca tadvṛttis tasya devasya vai tridhā aprākṛtasya tasyādir madhyāntaṃ nāsti cātmanaḥ

Translation

గుణాత్మకమైన వారి వృత్తి ఆ దేవుని సంబంధమున త్రివిధమని చెప్పబడింది; అయితే ఆ ప్రభువు ప్రకృతికి అతీతుడు. ఆ ఆత్మస్వరూపునకు ఆది లేదు, మధ్యము లేదు, అంతము లేదు.

Word by Word

• गुण-आत्मिका: consisting of the guṇas

• च: and

• तत्-वृत्तिः: its operation/functioning

• तस्य: of that

• देवस्य: of the Deva (the Lord)

• वै: indeed

• त्रिधा: in three ways (as sattva-rajas-tamas)

• अप्राकृतस्य: of the one beyond Prakṛti

• तस्य: of him/that

• आदिः: beginning

• मध्य-अन्तम्: middle and end

• न अस्ति: do not exist

• च: and

• आत्मनः: of the Self

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 Liṅga as the sign of the transcendent Pati (Shiva) who is untouched by the three guṇas, even while the guṇas govern manifested creation—guiding worship from mere worldly boons to liberation.

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

Shiva is presented as aprākṛta—beyond Prakṛti and its triguna operations—beginningless, endless, and not confined by temporal phases, establishing him as the eternal Pati over pashu (souls) bound by pasha (limitations).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implies a Pāśupata-oriented inner discipline: discerning the triguna play in mind and world while meditating on the aprākṛta Shiva-tattva symbolized by the Liṅga, aiming at guṇa-transcendence and mokṣa.