Shloka 5

देवदारुवनौकसां प्रति ब्रह्मोपदेशः—लिङ्गलक्षण-प्रतिष्ठा-विधिः, शिवमायारूपदर्शनं, स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

संहरत्येष भगवान् कालो भूत्वा महेश्वरः एष चैव प्रजाः सर्वाः सृजत्येकः स्वतेजसा

Transliteration

saṃharatyeṣa bhagavān kālo bhūtvā maheśvaraḥ eṣa caiva prajāḥ sarvāḥ sṛjatyekaḥ svatejasā

Translation

此尊圣主化为时间（Kāla）之相而为大自在天（Mahēśvara），摄收并融解宇宙；而同一独一者，唯凭自有光辉，再度生起一切众生。于湿婆悉檀多中，彼为主宰（Pati），统御流出（sṛṣṭi）与回摄（saṃhāra），诸有情（paśu）皆在其法度中运行。

Word by Word

• संहरति: withdraws/dissolves

• एष: this (One)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord

• कालः: Time

• भूत्वा: having become/assuming the form

• महेश्वरः: Maheshvara (Great Lord Shiva)

• एष: this very (One)

• च एव: and indeed

• प्रजाः: creatures/progeny/beings

• सर्वाः: all

• सृजति: creates/emanates

• एकः: one/alone

• स्वतेजसा: by His own tejas (radiance/power).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the doctrine of Shiva as Time to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Kala (Time)

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-worship in tattva: the Linga signifies the one Pati (Shiva) whose svatejas sustains, manifests, and withdraws all worlds—so worship is directed to the source beyond transient forms.

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

Shiva is identified with Kāla (Time) as Maheshvara: the single sovereign who performs both sṛṣṭi and saṃhāra. This expresses His lordship (aiśvarya) over pasha-bound existence while remaining the one supreme cause.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative Pashupata-oriented practice is implied: meditate on Shiva as Kāla and as svatejas (self-luminous power), cultivating detachment from change and recognizing Pati as the inner governor of cosmic cycles.