Shloka 99

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

अमृतं चाक्षरं ब्रह्म परमात्मा परापरम् निर्विकल्पं निराभासं ज्ञानं पर्यायवाचकम्

Transliteration

amṛtaṃ cākṣaraṃ brahma paramātmā parāparam nirvikalpaṃ nirābhāsaṃ jñānaṃ paryāyavācakam

Translation

“不死”“不坏”“梵（Brahman）”“至上我（Paramātman）”“高与下（para–apara）”，以及“无分别”“无世相显现”——这一切皆为同义之称，指向那唯一的智知（jñāna），以表至尊主宰（Pati）。

Word by Word

• amṛtam: immortal, deathless

• ca: and

• akṣaram: imperishable, undecaying

• brahma: Brahman, the Absolute

• paramātmā: Supreme Self (inner ruler)

• parāparam: transcendent-yet-immanent (higher and lower)

• nirvikalpam: free from conceptual construction, undifferentiated

• nirābhāsam: without manifestation/phenomenal appearance, beyond objective display

• jñānam: spiritual Knowledge, consciousness-principle

• paryāya-vācakam: a synonymous designation, an equivalent term

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching on Shiva-tattva as supreme Knowledge)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga devotion as worship of the imperishable Pati—Shiva—who is understood through liberating jñāna; the Linga points to the akṣara, amṛta reality beyond decay and death.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as the Supreme Self and Brahman—nirvikalpa (beyond mental constructs) and nirābhāsa (beyond phenomenal projection)—the one consciousness/knowledge that transcends yet pervades all (parāpara).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is jñāna-oriented Pashupata yoga: dissolving vikalpa (conceptuality) to realize the Pati as inner Paramātmā; external puja is strengthened by this inner recognition.