Shloka 27

Adhyaya 75: Nishkala–Sakala Shiva, Twofold Linga, and the Supremacy of Dhyana-Yajna

Devanagari script

दृश्यते श्रूयते यद्यत् तत्तद्विद्धि शिवात्मकम् भेदो जनानां लोके ऽस्मिन् प्रतिभासो विचारतः

Transliteration

dṛśyate śrūyate yadyat tattadviddhi śivātmakam bhedo janānāṃ loke 'smin pratibhāso vicārataḥ

Translation

凡所见、凡所闻——当知一切皆是湿婆（Śiva）之自性。世间众生所执之差别，不过是显现；以真实辨慧观之，唯是幻相。

Word by Word

• दृश्यते: is seen

• श्रूयते: is heard

• यद्यत्: whatever

• तत्तत्: that very (all of it)

• विद्धि: know (understand)

• शिवात्मकम्: having Śiva as its essence / of the nature of Śiva

• भेदः: difference, division

• जनानाम्: among people

• लोके अस्मिन्: in this world

• प्रतिभासः: appearance, seeming manifestation

• विचारतः: from (the standpoint of) inquiry/discrimination

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as training the gaze (darśana) and hearing (śravaṇa) to recognize all experience as Śiva-pervaded; the Linga becomes the focal symbol for this all-inclusive Shiva-consciousness.

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

Śiva is presented as the inner essence (śivātmakatva) of everything perceived and known; perceived plurality is a pratibhāsa (mere appearance) dissolved by vicāra (discriminative inquiry).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Viveka-based contemplation aligned with Pāśupata yoga: repeatedly discerning Pati (Śiva) as the ground of all perceptions, weakening pasha (bondage) born from bheda-buddhi (notion of separateness) in the pashu (bound soul).