Shloka 8

सप्तद्वीप-सप्तसमुद्र-वर्णनम् तथा प्रियव्रतवंश-राज्यविभागः

Devanagari script

तेनैव सृष्टमखिलं धृतं रक्षितमेव च संहृतं देवदेवस्य प्रसादात्परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

tenaiva sṛṣṭamakhilaṃ dhṛtaṃ rakṣitameva ca saṃhṛtaṃ devadevasya prasādātparameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

唯由彼一者，此一切宇宙得以生起、维持、护持，终归复摄——皆赖诸天之主、至上主宰帕拉梅什提因（Parameṣṭhin）之恩典；彼为超越一切之主宰（Pati）。

Word by Word

• tenaiva: by Him alone

• sṛṣṭam: created

• akhilam: all, the entire (universe)

• dhṛtam: upheld, sustained

• rakṣitam eva ca: and indeed protected

• saṃhṛtam: withdrawn, dissolved

• devadevasya: of the God of gods (Shiva)

• prasādāt: by the grace, favor

• parameṣṭhinaḥ: of the Supreme Lord/Ruler (the highest enthroned one)

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga worship in tattva: the Linga signifies Shiva as Pati whose grace alone empowers creation, protection, and dissolution—so worship is not merely ritual, but alignment with the supreme causal reality.

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

Shiva is presented as Devadeva and Parameṣṭhin, the ultimate sovereign cause behind sṛṣṭi-sthiti-saṃhāra; all cosmic functions occur through His prasāda, indicating transcendence as well as immanence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights prasāda-centered sādhanā central to Pāśupata orientation: devotion and surrender to Pati (Shiva) as the means by which the pashu (soul) is protected from pāśa (bondage) and led toward release.