Shloka 95

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

Devanagari script

त्रिधा यद्वर्तते लोके तस्मात्त्रिगुण उच्यते चतुर्धा प्रविभक्तत्वाच् चतुर्व्यूहः प्रकीर्तितः

Transliteration

tridhā yadvartate loke tasmāttriguṇa ucyate caturdhā pravibhaktatvāc caturvyūhaḥ prakīrtitaḥ

Translation

లోకంలో అది మూడు విధాలుగా ప్రవర్తించునందున ‘త్రిగుణ’ అని చెప్పబడుతుంది. నాలుగు విధాలుగా విభజింపబడినందున ‘చతుర్వ్యూహ’ అని కీర్తించబడుతుంది॥

Word by Word

• त्रिधा (tridhā): in three ways

• यत् (yat): which

• वर्तते (vartate): operates/prevails

• लोके (loke): in the world

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore

• त्रिगुणः (triguṇaḥ): possessing three guṇas

• उच्यते (ucyate): is called

• चतुर्धा (caturdhā): in four ways

• प्रविभक्तत्वात् (pravibhaktatvāt): due to being divided/differentiated

• चतुर्व्यूहः (caturvyūhaḥ): fourfold emanation/array

• प्रकीर्तितः (prakīrtitaḥ): is declared/proclaimed.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the doctrine as received in the Purana’s teaching lineage)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos encountered in Linga-pūjā as guṇa-governed (threefold), while pointing to a higher Shaiva principle that also expresses itself in a fourfold order—helping the worshipper discern the manifested world from Shiva (Pati) who is ultimately beyond guṇas.

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

It implies a distinction: worldly functioning is triguṇic (prakṛti and its effects), yet the supreme Shaiva reality can be spoken of as arranging manifestation in a fourfold way; in Shaiva Siddhanta, Shiva as Pati is not limited by guṇas even while governing their play for the sake of sṛṣṭi and anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway for Pāśupata-oriented sādhana is guṇa-śuddhi: observing and transcending sattva–rajas–tamas through discipline, mantra, and Linga-upāsanā, so the Pashu (soul) loosens pāśa (bondage) and turns toward Pati (Shiva).