Shloka 12

Mahādeva’s Boon: Unwavering Bhakti, Tri-functional Cosmos, and the Supratiṣṭhā of Liṅga-Arcā

Devanagari script

त्रिधा भिन्नो ह्यहं विष्णो ब्रह्मविष्णुभवाख्यया सर्गरक्षालयगुणैर् निष्कलः परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

tridhā bhinno hyahaṃ viṣṇo brahmaviṣṇubhavākhyayā sargarakṣālayaguṇair niṣkalaḥ parameśvaraḥ

Translation

โอ้วิษณุ เราถูกกล่าวว่าเป็นสามภาค—พรหมา วิษณุ และภวะ—ตามคุณแห่งการสร้าง การธำรง และการสลาย; แต่โดยสัจจะ เราคือปรเมศวรผู้ไร้ส่วน (นิษฺกล) เหนือหน้าที่จำกัดทั้งปวง

Word by Word

• त्रिधा (tridhā): in three ways/threefold

• भिन्नः (bhinnaḥ): differentiated/appearing as distinct

• हि (hi): indeed

• अहम् (aham): I

• विष्णो (viṣṇo): O Viṣṇu / O all-pervading one

• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-भव-आख्यया (brahma-viṣṇu-bhava-ākhyayā): by the names ‘Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Bhava’

• सर्ग-रक्षा-लय-गुणैः (sarga-rakṣā-laya-guṇaiḥ): by the qualities/functions of creation, protection, and dissolution

• निष्कलः (niṣkalaḥ): partless, without divisions/attributes

• परमेश्वरः (parameśvaraḥ): the Supreme Lord (Pati)

Speaker

Shiva (as Parameshvara) addressing Vishnu within the Purana’s internal dialogue, framed by Suta’s narration

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Bhava

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga worship in the niṣkala (partless) Parameśvara: the Linga signifies the one Shiva who appears as the three cosmic functions yet remains transcendent, making the Linga a direct symbol of Pati beyond all forms.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as the one Supreme Lord who, by māyā’s functional distinctions, is named Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Bhava for sṛṣṭi-sthiti-laya, while in essence he is niṣkala—unlimited, undivided, and sovereign as Parameśvara.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse primarily highlights tattva-jñāna (right understanding) used in Shaiva upāsanā: worship and meditation should be directed to the one niṣkala Pati (often contemplated through the Linga), rather than stopping at the three functional manifestations.