Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 133

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

सप्तलोकाय पातालनरकेशाय वै नमः अष्टक्षेत्राष्टरूपाय परात्परतराय च

Transliteration

saptalokāya pātālanarakeśāya vai namaḥ aṣṭakṣetrāṣṭarūpāya parātparatarāya ca

Translation

Salutations indeed to Him who pervades the seven worlds, who is also the Lord of Pātāla and of the hell-realms. Salutations to the One of eight sacred abodes and eightfold forms—He who is beyond the beyond, the Supreme Pati transcending all.

Word by Word

• सप्तलोकाय: to the One identified with/pervading the seven worlds

• पाताल-नरक-ईशाय: to the Lord (Īśa) of Pātāla and Naraka (nether and hell realms)

• वै: indeed/verily

• नमः: salutations

• अष्ट-क्षेत्र-अष्ट-रूपाय: to the One having eight kṣetras (sacred fields/abodes) and eight rūpas (forms/aspects)

• परात्-परतराय: to the One higher than the highest, beyond the beyond

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a stotra sequence to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga as the all-pervading Pati: worship is not limited to one realm, because Shiva is sovereign over the seven lokas as well as Pātāla and Naraka—making Linga-puja a complete, cosmic invocation.

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

Shiva is presented as parātparatara—transcendent beyond all categories—yet simultaneously immanent as the Lord present in every plane of existence, guiding pashus (souls) beyond pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A stuti-based upasana: reciting Shiva’s names while contemplating His all-realm sovereignty and His eightfold manifestations—used as a dhyana support within Shaiva and Pashupata-oriented worship.