Shloka 18

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

तेनैव चावृतः सम्यग् अहंकारस् तमो ऽधिकः महतो भूततन्मात्रं सर्गकृद्वै बभूव च

Transliteration

tenaiva cāvṛtaḥ samyag ahaṃkāras tamo 'dhikaḥ mahato bhūtatanmātraṃ sargakṛdvai babhūva ca

Translation

被那同一tamas完全覆蔽，Ahaṃkāra遂成以昏暗性为主；并且从大原理（mahat）生起诸tanmātra（微细元素）与众生之生成——由此创造的进程得以展开。

Word by Word

• तेनैव: by that (very tamas) alone

• च: and

• आवृतः: covered, enveloped

• सम्यक्: completely, properly

• अहंकारः: ego-principle (ahaṃkāra)

• तमोऽधिकः: with tamas predominant, chiefly tamasic

• महतः: from mahat (the Great Principle)

• भूततन्मात्रम्: the subtle essences of the elements (tanmātras) leading to bhūtas

• सर्गकृत्: the maker/agent of creation

• वै: indeed

• बभूव: became, arose

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmological sequence as taught in the Linga Purana tradition)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as a manifestation within prakṛti’s guṇas—especially tamas shaping ahaṃkāra—so Linga worship is presented as turning the pashu (soul) back toward Pati (Shiva), who transcends the guṇas and their products.

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

By describing how creation proceeds from mahat through tamasic ahaṃkāra into tanmātras and bhūtas, it implicitly contrasts Shiva-tattva as the unconditioned Lord (Pati) who is not a product of these evolutes, yet governs their arising and dissolution.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata-oriented discipline: reducing tamas and dissolving ahaṃkāra through japa, dhyāna on the Linga, and observances that loosen pāśa (bondage) formed from guṇa-born tattvas.