Shloka 55

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

ओङ्कारस्तु त्रयो लोकाः शिरस्तस्य त्रिविष्टपम् भुवनाङ्गं च तत्सर्वं ब्राह्मं तत्पदमुच्यते

Transliteration

oṅkārastu trayo lokāḥ śirastasya triviṣṭapam bhuvanāṅgaṃ ca tatsarvaṃ brāhmaṃ tatpadamucyate

Translation

嗡迦罗（Oṅkāra）实为三界。其首为三十三天（Triviṣṭapa）；一切诸宇宙皆为其肢体。此即名为“梵之境”（Brahman-state）——主宰（Pati）之至上住处（pada）。

Word by Word

• oṅkāraḥ: the sacred syllable Om

• tu: indeed

• trayaḥ lokāḥ: the three worlds

• śiraḥ: head

• tasya: of it/that

• triviṣṭapam: heaven, the realm of the gods

• bhuvana-aṅgam: having the worlds as limbs, whose limbs are the universes

• ca: and

• tat sarvam: all that, the entirety

• brāhmam: the Brahman-nature, absolute reality

• tat: that

• padam: state/abode/goal

• ucyate: is said to be, is called

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 identifies Oṅkāra as the total cosmic form and the highest ‘pada’ (goal/abode), supporting Linga-upāsanā where the worshipper contemplates Shiva (Pati) as both immanent in the worlds and transcendent as Brahman.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as brāhma (Brahman-reality): the all-pervading ground in which the three worlds are contained as limbs, while still being the supreme state beyond limitation—Pati who encompasses pashu (souls) and pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Oṅkāra-dhyāna: meditative absorption on Om as Shiva’s cosmic body and as the liberating ‘pada’, a Pāśupata-oriented contemplation that loosens pasha (bondage) and turns the pashu toward Pati.