Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

वर्तमानव्यतीतानि तथैवानागतान्यपि स्मरते सर्वकार्याणि तेनासौ स्मृतिरुच्यते

Transliteration

vartamānavyatītāni tathaivānāgatānyapi smarate sarvakāryāṇi tenāsau smṛtirucyate

Translation

వర్తమానము, గతము, అలాగే భవిష్యత్తు విషయములనూ సమస్త కార్యములనూ ఏదిచేత స్మరించబడునో, అందువల్ల అది ‘స్మృతి’ అని పిలువబడును॥

Word by Word

• वर्तमान (vartamāna): present

• व्यतीतानि (vyatītāni): past (things gone by)

• तथा एव (tathā eva): likewise/just so

• अनागतानि (anāgatāni): future (yet to come)

• अपि (api): even/also

• स्मरते (smarate): remembers/recollects

• सर्व (sarva): all

• कार्याणि (kāryāṇi): matters, affairs, actions, duties

• तेन (tena): by that/therefore

• असौ (asau): that (faculty/thing)

• स्मृतिः (smṛtiḥ): memory, recollection

• उच्यते (ucyate): is called/said to be

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the doctrinal teaching within the Purva-Bhaga context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames smṛti (sacred remembrance) as a defining mental power—supporting linga-pūjā through steady smaraṇa of Pati (Śiva), which stabilizes the pashu’s mind and weakens pasha (bondage).

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

By implication, Śiva as Pati is the constant ground of awareness; smṛti becomes the inner instrument that lets the pashu align cognition across time (past–present–future) toward Śiva-oriented jñāna and steadiness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It points to smaraṇa-based discipline—continuous remembrance used in Pāśupata Yoga and in pūjā as mental japa/dhyāna, integrating all actions (kārya) into Śiva-sambandha (relation to Śiva).