Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

मदनदाहः — पार्वतीतपः, स्वयंवरलीला, देवस्तम्भनं, दिव्यचक्षुर्दानम्

Devanagari script

बुद्धिस्त्वं सर्वलोकानाम् अहङ्कारस् त्वम् ईश्वरः भूतानामिन्द्रियाणां च त्वमेवेश प्रवर्त्तकः

Transliteration

buddhistvaṃ sarvalokānām ahaṅkāras tvam īśvaraḥ bhūtānāmindriyāṇāṃ ca tvameveśa pravarttakaḥ

Translation

You are the buddhi (illuminating intelligence) of all worlds; You are the very ahaṅkāra, O Lord. And for all beings and their senses, O Īśa, You alone are the impelling initiator—the inner Pati who sets their functions in motion.

Word by Word

• बुद्धिः (buddhiḥ): higher intelligence, discernment

• त्वम् (tvam): You

• सर्वलोकानाम् (sarva-lokānām): of all worlds/realms

• अहङ्कारः (ahaṅkāraḥ): ego-principle, ‘I’-sense

• त्वम् (tvam): You

• ईश्वरः (īśvaraḥ): Lord, sovereign controller

• भूतानाम् (bhūtānām): of beings/creatures

• इन्द्रियाणाम् (indriyāṇām): of the senses

• च (ca): and

• त्वम् एव (tvam eva): You alone

• ईश (īśa): O Lord

• प्रवर्तकः (pravartakaḥ): impeller, activator, one who sets in motion

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva-stuti within the chapter’s discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as devotion to the inner Īśvara who operates as buddhi and the impelling power behind all senses—so the Linga signifies not merely an outer icon but the indwelling Pati guiding every function.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as the inner ruler: present as the cognitive light (buddhi), the individuating principle (ahaṅkāra), and the activator of indriyas—transcendent yet immanent as the causal governor of embodied experience.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implies indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) and inward worship: in Pashupata-oriented practice, one offers the movements of mind and senses to Pati (Shiva) through japa, dhyāna, and Linga-pūjā as inner consecration.