Shloka 77

एकार्णव-सृष्टिक्रमः, ब्रह्म-विष्णु-परस्परप्रवेशः, शिवस्य आगमनं च

Devanagari script

द्विविधं चैवमात्मानं प्रविभज्य व्यवस्थितः निष्कलस्तत्र यो ऽव्यक्तः सकलश् च महेश्वरः

Transliteration

dvividhaṃ caivamātmānaṃ pravibhajya vyavasthitaḥ niṣkalastatra yo 'vyaktaḥ sakalaś ca maheśvaraḥ

Translation

如是，祂将自身分判为二而安住：一为无分、未显的尼什迦罗（Niṣkala）；亦为具相、显现的萨迦罗（Sakala）之主——大自在天（Maheśvara）。

Word by Word

• द्विविधम्: twofold

• च एवम्: and thus

• आत्मानम्: the Self (His own nature)

• प्रविभज्य: having distinguished/divided conceptually

• व्यवस्थितः: established, abiding

• निष्कलः: partless, without parts/attributes

• तत्र: therein/as that

• यः: who

• अव्यक्तः: unmanifest

• सकलः: with parts, manifest/embodied

• च: and

• महेश्वरः: Maheshvara (the Supreme Lord, Pati)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the doctrine as received in the Purana’s discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheshvara)

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga worship in the key Shaiva principle that Shiva is both Niṣkala (formless, unmanifest) and Sakala (with form, accessible to devotion). The Linga functions as the worship-symbol that bridges these two modes.

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

It presents Shiva as Maheshvara who remains one yet is understood in two aspects: Niṣkala (avyakta, beyond attributes and parts) and Sakala (manifest, endowed with knowable qualities for grace and governance).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports a twofold upāsanā: meditative realization of the Niṣkala Shiva (inner contemplation in Pashupata-oriented yoga) alongside Sakala worship through pūjā of the Lord’s manifest presence (especially via the Linga).