Shloka 71

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

यत्प्रमाणगुहा प्रज्ञा मनस्तु मनुते यतः बृहत्त्वाद् बृंहणत्वाच्च ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदांवराः

Transliteration

yatpramāṇaguhā prajñā manastu manute yataḥ bṛhattvād bṛṃhaṇatvācca brahmā brahmavidāṃvarāḥ

Translation

诸梵知者中最胜的圣贤称祂为“梵天”（Brahmā）：因为在祂之中潜藏着一切认知的量度（pramāṇa）；因为心识唯依祂的根基方能思惟；又因为祂广大（bṛhat）并令万有扩展（bṛṃhaṇa）——使存在与智慧得以增广。

Word by Word

• yat: because/that which

• pramāṇa: measure, means of valid knowledge

• guhā: cave, hidden locus

• prajñā: higher intelligence, awakened cognition

• manas: mind

• tu: indeed

• manute: thinks, conceives

• yataḥ: from whom/because of whom

• bṛhattvāt: due to vastness

• bṛṃhaṇatvāt: due to the power of expansion/nourishing increase

• ca: and

• brahmā: Brahmā / the Brahman-designate “Brahmā”

• brahmavidām: of the knowers of Brahman

• varāḥ: the best, foremost.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional nirukti taught in the Purva-Bhaga context)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames the ultimate reality behind Linga worship as the inner “hidden measure” (pramāṇa-guhā) that enables all knowing; worship of the Linga is thus directed to Pati, the source of prajñā and the expansion of existence.

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

By describing the ground from which mind can think and by which being expands, it points to Shiva-tattva as Pati: vast, all-pervading consciousness that empowers cognition and unfolds the cosmos while remaining the inward cave of awareness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports an inward Pashupata-oriented contemplation: turning the mind back to its source (the guhā of prajñā) while performing Linga-pūjā, recognizing cognition itself as dependent on the Lord.