Shloka 1

Adhyaya 17: लिङ्गोद्भव—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वहङ्कार-शमनं, ओंकार-प्रादुर्भावः, मन्त्र-तत्त्वं च

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच एवं संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तः सह्यादीनां समुद्भवः यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि श्रावयेद्वा द्विजोत्तमान्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca evaṃ saṃkṣepataḥ proktaḥ sahyādīnāṃ samudbhavaḥ yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi śrāvayedvā dvijottamān

Translation

Sūta said: Thus, in brief, the origin of the Sahya and the other sacred mountain ranges has been declared. Whoever recites it, hears it, or causes the best of the twice-born to hear it, gains the fruit of this holy narration.

Word by Word

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• evaṃ: thus

• saṃkṣepataḥ: briefly/in summary

• proktaḥ: has been spoken/declared

• sahya-ādīnām: of Sahya and others

• samudbhavaḥ: origin/arising

• yaḥ: whoever

• paṭhet: recites

• śṛṇuyāt: hears

• vā api: or even

• śrāvayet: causes (others) to hear/recites for

• vā: or

• dvija-uttamān: the best of the twice-born (learned Brahmins)

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Dvija (twice-born)

FAQs

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

It establishes śravaṇa (hearing) and pāṭha (recitation) of Shaiva Purāṇic teaching as a meritorious act that prepares the paśu (individual soul) for devotion to Pati (Śiva), which culminates in Linga-centered worship and sanctification.

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

Indirectly: by praising the power of sacred narration, it implies that Śiva-tattva is approached through revealed teaching (āgama/purāṇa) and disciplined reception—hearing, reciting, and transmitting—by which bondage (pāśa) is thinned and the soul turns toward the Lord.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Purāṇa-śravaṇa and pāṭha as a devotional discipline—listening, reciting, and sponsoring recitation—functions as a preparatory sādhana aligned with Shaiva practice, supporting purity and steady bhakti that can mature into Pāśupata-oriented devotion.