Shloka 74

Adhyaya 17: लिङ्गोद्भव—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वहङ्कार-शमनं, ओंकार-प्रादुर्भावः, मन्त्र-तत्त्वं च

Devanagari script

इकारो दक्षिणं नेत्रम् ईकारो वामलोचनम् उकारो दक्षिणं श्रोत्रम् ऊकारो वाममुच्यते

Transliteration

ikāro dakṣiṇaṃ netram īkāro vāmalocanam ukāro dakṣiṇaṃ śrotram ūkāro vāmamucyate

Translation

‘اِ’ کو دایاں چشم کہا گیا ہے، ‘ای’ بایاں چشم۔ ‘اُ’ دایاں کان ہے اور ‘او’ بایاں کان کہا گیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• इकारः (ikāraḥ): the syllable ‘i’

• दक्षिणम् (dakṣiṇam): right (side)

• नेत्रम् (netram): eye

• ईकारः (īkāraḥ): the syllable ‘ī’

• वाम (vāma): left (side)

• लोचनम् (locanam): eye

• उकारः (ukāraḥ): the syllable ‘u’

• श्रोत्रम् (śrotram): ear

• ऊकारः (ūkāraḥ): the syllable ‘ū’

• उच्यते (ucyate): is said/declared

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga’s mantra-body symbolism as taught in the Purva-Bhaga narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It maps sacred syllables to Shiva’s divine senses, supporting nyāsa-style contemplation where the worshipper internalizes the Linga as a living mantra-body (mantra-śarīra) rather than a mere external icon.

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

Shiva is presented as permeating sound and form: phonemes (varṇas) become limbs of perception, indicating Pati as the conscious principle whose awareness is expressed through mantra and whose presence is accessed through inner identification.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-nyāsa and dhyāna: assigning syllables to body-points (here eyes and ears) to purify perception and align the pashu (soul) toward Pati through disciplined, sense-refining worship.