Shloka 17

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

महतस्तु तथा वृत्तिः संकल्पाध्यवसायिका महतस् त्रिगुणस् तस्माद् अहंकारो रजो ऽधिकः

Transliteration

mahatastu tathā vṛttiḥ saṃkalpādhyavasāyikā mahatas triguṇas tasmād ahaṃkāro rajo 'dhikaḥ

Translation

Mahat（大智、宇宙理智）的作用，是生起意向与决断。Mahat由三种guṇa构成；因此由它生出Ahaṃkāra（我执之原理），其中rajas最为强盛。

Word by Word

• mahataḥ: of Mahat (cosmic intellect)

• tu: indeed

• tathā: thus

• vṛttiḥ: function/operation

• saṅkalpa: intention/resolve

• adhyavasāyikā: characterized by decisive ascertainment

• mahataḥ: of Mahat

• triguṇaḥ: consisting of the three guṇas

• tasmāt: from that/therefore

• ahaṃkāraḥ: ego-principle, I-maker

• rajaḥ-adhikaḥ: with rajas predominant/excessive

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmological sequence to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It explains how ego (ahaṃkāra) emerges from Mahat through guṇas—showing why Linga-pūjā and Shaiva discipline aim to dissolve guṇa-driven self-sense (pāśa) and reorient the pashu (soul) toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By mapping Mahat and ahaṃkāra as guṇa-based evolutes, it implicitly contrasts them with Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati—beyond the guṇas and their products, yet allowing their ordered manifestation for creation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A key Pāśupata-Yoga takeaway is vigilance over saṅkalpa and adhyavasāya (intention and determination), since they belong to Mahat; through mantra-japa, dhyāna on the Linga, and vairāgya, the sādhaka reduces rājasic agitation that strengthens ahaṃkāra.