Progress:11.1%
वेदांतसारसंसिद्धं प्रणवार्थे प्रकाशनात् । एवमेव पुरा पृष्टो मंदरे नंदिकेश्वरः १६ ।
This has been explained in the meaning of the Praṇava (Om), the essence of Vedānta, by Nandikeśvara when asked by Sanatkumāra, the intelligent son of Brahmā, at the mountain Mandara.
english translation
सनत्कुमार उवाच । शिवान्यदेववश्यानां सर्वेषामपि सर्वतः १७ ।
Sanatkumāra said: Shiva is the master of all the other gods, and He is supreme over all of them, in every way.
english translation
बेरमात्रं च पूजार्थं श्रुतं दृष्टं च भूरिशः । शिवमात्रस्य पूजायां लिंगं बेरं च दृश्यते १८ ।
The embodied form alone is often observed in the worship of the deities other than Śiva. But both the phallic and the embodied forms are seen only in the worship of Śiva. Hence O benevolent one, please tell me precisely making me understand the truth.
english translation
अतस्तद्ब्रूहि कल्याण तत्त्वं मे साधुबोधनम् । नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । अनुत्तरमिमं प्रश्नं रहस्यं ब्रह्मलक्षणम् १९ ।
Nandikeśvara said: It is impossible to answer this question without revealing the secret of Brahman.
english translation
कथयामि शिवेनोक्तं भक्तियुक्तस्य तेऽनघ । शिवस्य ब्रह्मरूपत्वान्निष्कलत्वाच्च निष्कलम् 1-5-२० ।
O sinless one, since you are pious I shall tell you what Śiva Himself has said. Since Śiva has the bodiless aspect in virtue of His being the supreme Brahman, the Niṣkala liṅga, in conformity with the Vedic implication, is used only in His worship.
english translation