Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

विष्णुरुवाच—एकाक्षर-प्रणव-लिङ्ग-व्याप्ति-शिवस्तोत्रम्

Devanagari script

ऋद्धिशोकविशोकाय पिनाकाय कपर्दिने विपाशाय सुपाशाय नमस्ते पाशनाशिने

Transliteration

ṛddhiśokaviśokāya pinākāya kapardine vipāśāya supāśāya namaste pāśanāśine

Translation

Salutations to You—who are prosperity itself, who remove sorrow and are untouched by sorrow; to the Bearer of the Pināka bow, to the Lord with matted locks; to Him who is beyond bondage and whose noose is auspicious—O Destroyer of the pāśa, the fetters that bind the pashu, the individual soul.

Word by Word

• ṛddhi: spiritual prosperity, auspicious increase

• śoka: sorrow

• viśoka: free from sorrow / sorrow-dispelling

• pināka: Shiva’s bow

• kapardin(e): the matted-haired Lord

• vipāśa: free from bonds / without fetter

• supāśa: auspicious noose, benevolent restraint

• namas-te: salutations to You

• pāśa-nāśine: destroyer of bondage/fetters

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a received Shiva-stuti within the Purva-Bhaga context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-bhakti as a liberation-oriented practice: the devotee praises Shiva as Pāśanāśin—the One who cuts the soul’s bonds—so worship is aimed at moksha, not merely worldly gain.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati: inherently free (vipāśa), compassionate controller (supāśa), and the transcendent Lord who both governs and finally dissolves pasha, removing śoka while remaining viśoka (untouched by it).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Stuti/japa as Pāśupata-oriented sādhana: repeated remembrance of Shiva’s names and functions (especially as pāśanāśin) is used as an inner discipline to loosen bondage and turn the pashu toward grace and release.