Shloka 78

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

आदित्यो ऽपि दिशश्चैव पृथिवी वरुणस् तथा वायुश्चन्द्रस् तथा ब्रह्मा रुद्रः क्षेत्रज्ञ एव च

Transliteration

ādityo 'pi diśaścaiva pṛthivī varuṇas tathā vāyuścandras tathā brahmā rudraḥ kṣetrajña eva ca

Translation

وہ آدتیہ بھی ہے، دِشائیں بھی؛ زمین، ورُن؛ ہوا، چاند؛ برہما، رُدر—اور وہی کْشیتْرَجْن ہے، سب جانداروں میں بسے ہوئے ‘کْشیتْر’ کا جاننے والا۔ یوں ایک ہی پتی-شیو ہر شے میں بطورِ اَنتَر آتما ویاپک ہے۔

Word by Word

• ādityaḥ: the Sun (solar deity)

• api: also/indeed

• diśaḥ: the directions/quarters

• ca eva: and indeed

• pṛthivī: the earth

• varuṇaḥ: Varuṇa (lord of waters/cosmic order)

• tathā: likewise

• vāyuḥ: the wind/prāṇa principle

• candraḥ: the moon

• tathā: likewise

• brahmā: Brahmā (creator)

• rudraḥ: Rudra (the fierce form of Śiva)

• kṣetrajñaḥ: the Knower of the field (inner witness)

• eva: verily

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Aditya
• Dik (Directions)
• Prithivi
• Varuna
• Vayu
• Chandra
• Brahma
• Rudra
• Kshetrajna (Inner Witness)

FAQs

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

It establishes that the Linga signifies the all-pervading Pati: worship is not limited to one deity-form, but honors Śiva as present in the Sun, Moon, elements, directions, and as the inner Witness.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as sarvadevatātmaka and antaryāmin: the same reality appears as cosmic powers (Āditya, Vāyu, Varuṇa, etc.) and also as Kṣetrajña, the conscious Knower within every kṣetra (body-mind field).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied practice is Pāśupata-oriented contemplation (bhāvanā) and jñāna in which the sādhaka recognizes the Kṣetrajña as Śiva, loosening pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul) through inner identification with the Pati.