Shloka 23

प्रलय-तत्त्वलयः, नीललोहित-रुद्रः, अष्टमूर्तिस्तवः, एवं ब्रह्मणो वैराग्यम्

Devanagari script

मृणालतन्तुभागैकशतभागे व्यवस्थितम् यमी यमविशुद्धात्मा नियम्यैवं हृदीश्वरम्

Transliteration

mṛṇālatantubhāgaikaśatabhāge vyavasthitam yamī yamaviśuddhātmā niyamyaivaṃ hṛdīśvaram

Translation

自我摄持、以持戒（yama）净化其心的瑜伽行者，应如是调御而观想住于心中的心主（Hṛdīśvara）：其所安处微细至如莲茎一丝之百分之一。

Word by Word

• मृणाल (mṛṇāla): lotus-stalk

• तन्तु (tantu): fiber/filament

• भाग (bhāga): part

• एक-शत-भागे (eka-śata-bhāge): in a hundredth part

• व्यवस्थितम् (vyavasthitam): established/abiding

• यमी (yamī): one who practices yama, a restrained yogin

• यम-विशुद्ध-आत्मा (yama-viśuddha-ātmā): whose self is purified by yama

• नियम्य (niyamya): having restrained/regulated (the mind, breath, senses)

• एवम् (evaṁ): thus/in this manner

• हृदि-ईश्वरम् (hṛdīśvaram): the Lord in the heart (Shiva as Pati within).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating yogic teaching as transmitted in the Linga Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship not only as an outer rite but as antar-yāga: the yogin installs and worships Shiva as Hṛdīśvara in the heart, in an extremely subtle locus, making inner purity and concentration central to Linga-upāsanā.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati—the indwelling Lord (Antaryāmin) who abides within the heart beyond gross perception. The ‘hundredth part of a lotus-fiber’ signals Shiva-tattva as subtle, luminous, and accessible through disciplined dhyāna rather than sensory grasping.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-aligned dhyāna practice: purification through yama, followed by niyama-like regulation (restraint of mind/senses/breath) and focused contemplation on Hṛdīśvara in the heart as the inner Linga.