Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

लोककर्ता पशुपतिर् महाकर्ता ह्यधोक्षजः अक्षरं परमं ब्रह्म बलवाञ्छुक्त एव च

Transliteration

lokakartā paśupatir mahākartā hyadhokṣajaḥ akṣaraṃ paramaṃ brahma balavāñchukta eva ca

Translation

He is the Maker of the worlds; He is Paśupati, the Pati, Lord of the paśu—the bound souls. He is the Great Doer, Adhokṣaja, transcendent beyond the reach of the senses. He is Akṣara, the Imperishable—Supreme Brahman itself—mighty, and truly the well-spoken, true Word.

Word by Word

• लोककर्ता: maker of the worlds

• पशुपतिः: Paśupati, Lord of paśus (souls)

• महाकर्ता: the great doer/creator

• हि: indeed

• अधोक्षजः: transcendent, beyond sensory perception

• अक्षरम्: imperishable

• परमम्: supreme

• ब्रह्म: Brahman, absolute reality

• बलवान्: mighty, powerful

• शुक्तः: well-spoken/true utterance (authoritative word)

• एव: indeed

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shaiva eulogy within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies the Linga’s deity as Paśupati—the sovereign Lord of all souls—so Linga-pūjā is directed to the transcendent Pati who creates and governs the worlds and grants liberation from bondage.

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

Shiva is presented as Adhokṣaja (beyond sense and mind), Akṣara (imperishable), and Parama Brahman—indicating Shiva-tattva as the supreme, unconditioned reality who remains immanent as world-maker yet transcendent to all measures.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: meditate on Shiva as Paśupati and Adhokṣaja—turning the mind from sensory objects to the imperishable Pati, the liberator of the paśu from pāśa.