Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

Devanagari script

परानंदकरं लिंगं विशुद्धं शिवमक्षरम् । निष्कलं सर्वगं ज्ञेयं योगिनां हृदि संस्थितम्

Transliteration

parānaṃdakaraṃ liṃgaṃ viśuddhaṃ śivamakṣaram | niṣkalaṃ sarvagaṃ jñeyaṃ yogināṃ hṛdi saṃsthitam

Translation

اعلموا أنّ اللِّينغا واهبُ النعيمِ الأسمى—غايةُ الطهارة، هو شيفا نفسُه، الحقيقةُ غيرُ الفانية. لا جزءَ له وهو شاملٌ لكلّ شيء؛ ويُدرَك أنّه قائمٌ في قلوبِ اليوغيين.

Word by Word

• परानन्दकरम्: causing supreme bliss
• परानन्दकरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + आनन्द + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — विशेषणम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘परस्य आनन्दस्य करम्’/‘परमानन्दं करोति’ इत्यर्थे)

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga (symbol/form)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विशुद्धम्: pure
• विशुद्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — विशेषणम्

• शिवम्: auspicious; Śiva-like
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — विशेषणम्

• अक्षरम्: imperishable
• अक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — विशेषणम्

• निष्कलम्: partless; without divisions
• निष्कलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — विशेषणम्

• सर्वगम्: all-pervading
• सर्वगम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — विशेषणम्

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known; knowable
• ज्ञेयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: यत्-कृत्य (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘to be known’

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संस्थितम्: situated; established
• संस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — विशेषणम् (‘situated/established’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s doctrine of the Liṅga to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal (not a specific shrine): the Liṅga is taught as parānaṃda-kara, niṣkala and sarvaga, to be realized inwardly in the yogin’s heart—an ‘antar-liṅga’ teaching rather than a localized sthala narrative.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage inwardly: realization of the heart-abiding Liṅga as the highest tīrtha, yielding parānanda and steadiness in Śiva-jñāna.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Yogins

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It identifies the Liṅga not merely as an external icon but as the imperishable, partless, all-pervading Śiva who grants supreme bliss and is realized inwardly by yogins—pointing to liberation through direct inner knowledge of Pati (Śiva).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

While the Liṅga is worshiped outwardly as a sacred form (saguṇa-support for devotion), this verse emphasizes its highest meaning as niṣkala (partless) and sarvaga (all-pervading), guiding devotees from ritual worship toward inner realization of Śiva’s transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the Śiva-Liṅga in the heart (hṛdaya-dhyāna), using steady yogic contemplation; in practice this aligns with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside pure-minded worship, leading the mind from form to the formless Śiva.