Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12
Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya
तटिनी रत्नपूर्णास्ते स्वर्गपातालगोचराः भाग्यहीना न पश्यन्ति भक्तिहीनाश् च ये शिवे
taṭinī ratnapūrṇāste svargapātālagocarāḥ bhāgyahīnā na paśyanti bhaktihīnāś ca ye śive
সেই নদীগুলি রত্নে পরিপূর্ণ এবং স্বর্গ থেকে পাতাল পর্যন্ত গমনযোগ্য; কিন্তু ভাগ্যহীনরা—যারা শিবভক্তিহীন—তাদের দেখতে পায় না।
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
FAQs
It teaches that tīrtha-darśana and the fruits of Linga-pūjā are not merely physical; without Śiva-bhakti (orientation to Pati), even sacred places and their merit remain “unseen” and unreceived.
Śiva-tattva is implied as the decisive principle behind true perception and grace: access to sacredness depends on devotion to Śiva, the Pati who alone can turn the pashu’s attention from pasha-bound limitation to liberating insight.
The verse highlights bhakti as the essential inner discipline supporting tīrtha-yātrā and Linga-pūjā; in a Pāśupata sense, devotion purifies perception so that pilgrimage and worship become effective means toward release from bondage.