Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

बीजी च बीजं तद्योनिर् नादाख्यश् च महेश्वरः बीजी विभज्य चात्मानं स्वेच्छया तु व्यवस्थितः

Transliteration

bījī ca bījaṃ tadyonir nādākhyaś ca maheśvaraḥ bījī vibhajya cātmānaṃ svecchayā tu vyavasthitaḥ

Translation

摩诃提婆（Mahādeva）自身既是持种者，也是种子；亦是那种子的胎藏，并是名为“那陀”（Nāda）的主——本初之音。祂随自愿而住，分显自身为持种者而安立。

Word by Word

• bījī: the Seed-bearer (cause possessing the power of manifestation)

• ca: and

• bījam: the seed (primordial causal potency)

• tat-yoniḥ: the womb/source of that (matrix of manifestation)

• nāda-ākhyaḥ: named/known as Nāda (primordial sound-vibration)

• ca: and

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheshvara, the Supreme Lord

• bījī: as the Seed-bearer

• vibhajya: having divided/differentiated

• ca: and

• ātmānam: His own Self

• sva-icchayā: by His own will (svātantrya)

• tu: indeed

• vyavasthitaḥ: remains established/abides in ordered presence.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga’s primordial manifestation to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Nada

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga as the supreme causal symbol: Shiva is simultaneously the seed, its womb/source, and the vibrating Nāda—so Linga-puja is worship of the very ground of creation, not merely a form.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati endowed with svātantrya (free sovereignty): He manifests multiplicity by ‘dividing’ His own power while remaining established as the one Maheshvara—cause, source, and sound-principle.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nāda-upāsanā (contemplation of the primordial sound) and causal meditation on the bīja (seed) are implied—core to Shaiva yogic inward worship that supports Linga-puja and Pashupata-oriented discipline.