Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 129

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

आचारः परमा विद्या आचारः परमा गतिः सदाचारवतां पुंसां सर्वत्राप्यभयं भवेत्

Transliteration

ācāraḥ paramā vidyā ācāraḥ paramā gatiḥ sadācāravatāṃ puṃsāṃ sarvatrāpyabhayaṃ bhavet

Translation

Right conduct (ācāra) is the highest knowledge (vidyā); right conduct is the supreme destination (gati). For those established in noble conduct (sadācāra), fearlessness arises everywhere, because such dharma purifies the paśu and aligns it toward the Pati, Śiva, beyond all pāśa (bondage).

Word by Word

• ācāraḥ: right conduct/discipline

• paramā: supreme/highest

• vidyā: knowledge (saving wisdom)

• gatiḥ: goal/refuge/destination

• sad-ācāra-vatām: of those possessing good conduct

• puṃsām: of persons/men

• sarvatra api: everywhere indeed

• abhayaṃ: fearlessness/security

• bhavet: arises/comes to be

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-puja is sustained by sadācāra (ethical discipline); when conduct is purified, worship becomes steady and the devotee gains abhaya (fearlessness) through dharmic alignment with Śiva.

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

By implying that fear dissolves when the pashu lives in right conduct, it points to Śiva as the Pati who grants abhaya—freedom from pasha—when inner and outer life conform to dharma.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Sadācāra as daily discipline—truthfulness, purity, restraint, and devotion—functions as the practical base for Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā and stable Linga-puja.