Shloka 1

Adhyaya 50 — देवपुर्यः, पुराणि, आयतनानि च; श्रीकण्ठाधिपत्य-प्रतिपादनम्

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे एकोनपञ्चाशत्तमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच शितान्तशिखरे शक्रः पारिजातवने शुभे तस्य प्राच्यां कुमुदाद्रिकूटो ऽसौ बहुविस्तरः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge ekonapañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca śitāntaśikhare śakraḥ pārijātavane śubhe tasya prācyāṃ kumudādrikūṭo 'sau bahuvistaraḥ

Translation

So beginnt im verehrten Liṅga-Mahāpurāṇa, im Pūrva-bhāga, das neunundvierzigste Kapitel. Sūta sprach: Auf dem Gipfel namens Śitānta weilte Śakra (Indra) im glückverheißenden Pārijāta-Hain; und östlich davon erhob sich der weithin ausgedehnte Gipfel des Berges Kumudādri.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the glorious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the earlier section

• ekona-pañcāśattamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the forty-ninth chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• śitānta-śikhare: on the peak named Śitānta

• śakraḥ: Śakra/Indra

• pārijāta-vane: in the Pārijāta grove

• śubhe: auspicious

• tasya: of it/thereof

• prācyām: to the east

• kumuda-adri-kūṭaḥ: the peak of Mount Kumudādri

• asau: that/this

• bahu-vistaraḥ: broad, extensive.

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Shakra (Indra)
• Parijata (celestial tree/grove)
• Kumudadri (mountain)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It establishes the narrative setting in Deva-loka, a typical Purāṇic prelude that frames later instructions on Śiva (Pati) and the means by which bound souls (paśu) approach liberation through liṅga-centered devotion and rite.

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

Indirectly: by situating Indra and the celestial realm, it prepares the contrast between limited deva-sovereignty and Śiva-tattva as the supreme Pati beyond all lokas—toward whom even devas ultimately turn.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific pūjā-vidhi or Pāśupata-yoga practice is stated in this opening verse; it functions as a scene-setting śloka that precedes the doctrinal or ritual content of the chapter.