Upaniṣads · Bhasmajābāla 2.39
॥
Devanāgarī
नैव भावयन्ति तल्लिङ्गं भानुश्चन्द्रोऽग्निर्वायुः । स्वप्रकाशं विश्वेश्वराभिधं पातालमधितिष्ठति
Transliteración (IAST)
naiva bhāvayanti talliṅgaṃ bhānuścandro'gnirvāyuḥ | svaprakāśaṃ viśveśvarābhidhaṃ pātālamadhitiṣṭhati
Palabra por palabra
SánscritoIASTSignificado
न एव भावयन्ति तत् लिङ्गंna eva bhāvayanti tat liṅgaṃthat liṅga they do not illuminate
भानुः चन्द्रः अग्निः वायुःbhānuḥ candraḥ agniḥ vāyuḥthe sun, the moon, fire, wind
स्व-प्रकाशं विश्व-ईश्वर-अभिधंsva-prakāśaṃ viśva-īśvara-abhidhaṃself-luminous, called the lord of the universe
पातालम् अधितिष्ठतिpātālam adhitiṣṭhatiestablished in the netherworld
Traducción
«That liṅga is not illuminated by the sun, the moon, fire, and wind; self-luminous, called the lord of the universe, it is established in the netherworld».
Versión
1a2c9c2c6dc6 · publicado 12 ago 2026, 5:00:00 UTC
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The famous passage is cited — «neither the sun nor the moon nor fire illuminates it» — discussed when reading Rudra-hṛdaya (40). There is no need to repeat the analysis; let me only recall the conclusion: it is not said «it is dark there», but that «no luminaries are needed there», for light is already present. Worth noting, however, what is added here: pātālam adhitiṣṭhati, «established in the netherworld».
Pātāla is the lowest of the worlds; and it is said that the luminous is established below. This detail is unexpected and worth attention. Usually the highest is placed above: heaven, the crown of the head, the summit. But here — below, underground.
This is explained, apparently, by the fact that the liṅga in Kāśī stands in a recess and runs deep into the earth; and tradition says it has no bottom. But the image itself is worth holding onto, for it is rare. Light established below is an image of foundation, not of summit; and it holds a thought absent from images of the summit: to reach the highest, one descends rather than climbs.
The Vaishnava side knows and loves this turn. Its highest is described as lower in position than all: the One who is above all herds cows, serves guests, washes feet, drives Arjuna's chariot. And so in its books it is said that He is found more easily below than above.