Shloka 193

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

पूर्वोत्पन्नौ परं तेभ्यः सर्वेषामपि पूर्वजौ व्यतीते त्वष्टमे कल्पे पुराणौ लोकसाक्षिणौ

Transliteration

pūrvotpannau paraṃ tebhyaḥ sarveṣāmapi pūrvajau vyatīte tvaṣṭame kalpe purāṇau lokasākṣiṇau

Translation

他们生于万有之前，超越一切众生，是诸有最古老的始祖。待第八劫已逝，那两位古圣作为诸世界的见证者而立。

Word by Word

• पूर्वोत्पन्नौ: born earlier/primordial pair

• परम्: higher, transcendent

• तेभ्यः: than them/than those

• सर्वेषाम्: of all

• अपि: indeed, even

• पूर्वजौ: the earliest-born/prime ancestors

• व्यतीते: having passed/elapsed

• त्वष्टमे: in the eighth

• कल्पे: kalpa/aeon

• पुराणौ: the two ancient ones

• लोकसाक्षिणौ: the two witnesses of the worlds

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Purana (as primordial testimony)
• Kalpa (cosmic aeon)

FAQs

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

It frames sacred tradition as rooted in primordial, world-witnessing reality—supporting Linga worship as devotion to the timeless Pati (Lord) who stands beyond changing kalpas.

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

By emphasizing transcendence and “witness of the worlds,” it aligns with Shiva-tattva as the eternal Sākṣin (witness-consciousness), prior to and greater than created orders.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It points to sākṣī-bhāva (witness-attitude) foundational to Shaiva yogic discipline—supportive of Pashupata-style inner detachment while honoring the Pati through Linga-puja.