Shloka 1

ध्यानयोगेन रुद्रदर्शनम् — रुद्रावतार-परिवर्तक्रमः, लकुली (कायावतार), पाशुपतयोगः, लिङ्गार्चन-निष्ठा

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच श्रुत्वैवमखिलं ब्रह्मा रुद्रेण परिभाषितम् पुनः प्रणम्य देवेशं रुद्रमाह प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca śrutvaivamakhilaṃ brahmā rudreṇa paribhāṣitam punaḥ praṇamya deveśaṃ rudramāha prajāpatiḥ

Translation

สุ ตะกล่าวว่า ครั้นได้สดับถ้อยคำทั้งปวงที่พระรุทระทรงประกาศแล้ว พระพรหมผู้เป็นประชาปติได้กราบนอบน้อมพระรุทระผู้เป็นเทวेशอีกครั้ง แล้วจึงทูลถามพระองค์

Word by Word

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• श्रुत्वा एवम् अखिलम्: having heard thus, all (that was spoken)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā

• रुद्रेण: by Rudra

• परिभाषितम्: explained/declared

• पुनः: again

• प्रणम्य: having bowed/prostrated

• देवेशम्: the Lord of the gods

• रुद्रम्: Rudra

• आह: said/addressed

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati (lord of creatures, i.e., Brahmā)

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Brahma
• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It establishes the required inner posture for Linga-upāsanā: after receiving Shiva’s teaching, even Brahmā responds with renewed pranāma (surrender), implying that devotion and humility before Pati (Shiva) precede any rite of installation or worship.

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

By calling Rudra “Deveśa” (Lord of the gods), the verse affirms Shiva’s supremacy as Pati—the sovereign consciousness who instructs and governs even cosmic authorities like Brahmā, the Prajāpati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pranāma and śaraṇāgati (reverential surrender) are highlighted—core preliminaries in Shaiva sādhanā and consonant with Pāśupata discipline, where submission to Pati’s command purifies the pashu (individual soul) from pasha (bondage).