Shloka 172

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

पूर्वोत्पन्नौ पुरा तेभ्यः सर्वेषामपि पूर्वजौ व्यतीते त्वष्टमे कल्पे पुराणौ लोकसाक्षिणौ

Transliteration

pūrvotpannau purā tebhyaḥ sarveṣāmapi pūrvajau vyatīte tvaṣṭame kalpe purāṇau lokasākṣiṇau

Translation

ప్రాచీనకాలంలో వారు ముందే జన్మించారు; అందరిలోనూ వారు జ్యేష్ఠ పూర్వజులు. ఎనిమిదవ కల్పం గడిచినా వారు పురాతనులు, లోకాల సాక్షులుగా నిలిచారు.

Word by Word

• पूर्वोत्पन्नौ: born earlier/primordial

• पुरा: formerly, in ancient time

• तेभ्यः: than them/from them

• सर्वेषाम्: of all

• अपि: even/indeed

• पूर्वजौ: the two elders/first-born (dual)

• व्यतीते: having passed/elapsed

• त्वष्टमे: in the eighth (kalpa)

• कल्पे: in a cosmic aeon

• पुराणौ: the two ancient ones (dual)

• लोकसाक्षिणौ: the two witnesses of the worlds (dual)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the sacred narrative in kalpa-time: Linga worship is anchored in the recognition of the eternal Witness (Pati) who remains when kalpas pass, making the Linga a symbol of what outlasts creation and dissolution.

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

By emphasizing “witness of the worlds” and endurance beyond kalpas, the verse points to Shiva-tattva as the abiding Pati—transcendent, beginningless, and not limited by the changing states of srishti and pralaya.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A key Pashupata-Yogic takeaway is sākṣī-bhāva (witness-consciousness): the pashu loosens pasha (bondage) by contemplating the world as transient and Shiva as the enduring witness, a contemplative support for Linga-puja and japa.