Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 188

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य — काशी-वाराणसी में मोक्ष, लिङ्ग-तीर्थ-मानचित्र, और उपासना-विधि

Devanagari script

अनुगृह्य गणत्वं च प्रापयामास लीलया एतद्वः कथितं सर्वं कथासर्वस्वमादरात्

Transliteration

anugṛhya gaṇatvaṃ ca prāpayāmāsa līlayā etadvaḥ kathitaṃ sarvaṃ kathāsarvasvamādarāt

Translation

Nachdem Er Gnade erwiesen hatte, ließ Er in Seinem līlā (jenen Verehrer) das gaṇatva erlangen — die Zugehörigkeit zu Śivas Gaṇas. So habe ich euch in Ehrfurcht dies alles erzählt, die eigentliche Essenz der heiligen Erzählung.

Word by Word

• अनुगृह्य: having shown grace, having favoured

• गणत्वं: the state of being a Gaṇa (Śiva’s attendant)

• च: and

• प्रापयामास: caused to attain, bestowed

• लीलया: as a divine play, effortlessly

• एतत्: this

• वः: to you (all)

• कथितं: narrated, told

• सर्वं: entirely, all

• कथा-सर्वस्वम्: the whole treasure/essence of the narrative

• आदरात्: with reverence, respectfully

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha as the decisive factor: sincere devotion to the Lord (worship of the Liṅga as Pati) culminates in divine acceptance, symbolized here by gaṇatva—intimate proximity and service to Śiva.

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

Śiva appears as Pati who grants upliftment by sheer grace, and as līlā-maya—acting effortlessly and freely, beyond compulsion, bestowing spiritual status as a compassionate sovereign.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points more to the fruit of Pāśupata-oriented devotion—Śiva’s grace breaking pāśa—than to a specific rite; the implied practice is steadfast bhakti and Śiva-sevā culminating in gaṇa-sevā (service in Śiva’s retinue).