Shloka 28

अविद्या-पञ्चक, नवसर्ग-क्रमः, प्रजापति-प्रसवः

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 5

Devanagari script

अर्धनारीश्वरं दृष्ट्वा सर्गादौ कनकाण्डजः विभजस्वेति चाहादौ यदा जाता तदाभवत्

Transliteration

ardhanārīśvaraṃ dṛṣṭvā sargādau kanakāṇḍajaḥ vibhajasveti cāhādau yadā jātā tadābhavat

Translation

在创世之初的黎明，金生的梵天（Brahmā）瞻见半女主（Ardhanārīśvara）——半为女相的至尊。起初他宣言：“请自分化！”就在那一刻，圣力（Śakti）显现，差别之相遂得确立。

Word by Word

• अर्धनारीश्वरम्: Ardhanārīśvara (Śiva united with Śakti as half-female)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen

• सर्गादौ: at the beginning of creation

• कनकाण्डजः: the golden-egg-born (Brahmā, born from the Hiraṇyāṇḍa)

• विभजस्व: ‘divide (Yourself)!’

• इति: thus

• च: and

• आह: said

• आदौ: in the beginning

• यदा: when/at the moment when

• जाता: was born/manifested

• तदा: then

• अभवत्: it came to be/occurred

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the early creation account; internal reference to Brahma’s act)

Characters & Entities

• Ardhanarishvara
• Shiva
• Shakti
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga theology in the primordial unity of Pati (Śiva) and Śakti: the Linga is not merely a symbol but the creative axis where Śiva’s consciousness and Śakti’s power become manifest for sṛṣṭi (creation) and for the liberation of paśus (souls).

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as intrinsically united with Śakti (Ardhanārīśvara). The ‘division’ is a functional manifestation for creation, not a real split in the Supreme—affirming Śiva as Pati, beyond change, while Śakti unfolds the cosmos.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to a contemplative key used in Śaiva sādhanā: meditating on Ardhanārīśvara to realize non-duality of consciousness and power—an inner basis for Pāśupata Yoga and for worship that sees the Linga as Śiva-Śakti inseparably present.