Shloka 1

Adhyaya 87 — Saṃsāra-viṣa-kathana: Ājñā-śakti, Māyā-bandha, and Mokṣa by Prasāda

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे संसारविषकथनं नाम षडशीतितमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच निशम्य ते महाप्राज्ञाः कुमाराद्याः पिनाकिनम् प्रोचुः प्रणम्य वै भीताः प्रसन्नं परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge saṃsāraviṣakathanaṃ nāma ṣaḍaśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca niśamya te mahāprājñāḥ kumārādyāḥ pinākinam procuḥ praṇamya vai bhītāḥ prasannaṃ parameśvaram

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, begins the eighty-seventh chapter called “The Account of the Poison of Saṃsāra.” Sūta said: Having heard his teaching, those greatly wise ones—Sanaka and the other Kumāras—bowed down in reverent awe and then addressed Pinākin, the Supreme Lord (Pati), who was gracious and pleased.

Word by Word

• इति: thus

• श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे: in the auspicious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• पूर्वभागे: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• संसारविषकथनम्: narration of the poison (toxicity) of saṃsāra

• नाम: named

• षडशीतितमः: eighty-sixth/eighty-seventh (here: 87th)

• अध्यायः: chapter

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• निशम्य: having heard

• ते: they

• महाप्राज्ञाः: greatly wise

• कुमाराद्याः: the Kumāras and others

• पिनाकिनम्: the wielder of the Pināka bow (Śiva)

• प्रोचुः: spoke/said

• प्रणम्य: having bowed

• वै: indeed

• भीताः: awestruck/with reverent fear

• प्रसन्नम्: pleased, gracious

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kumaras

FAQs

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

It frames the teaching context: the Kumāras approach Śiva (Pinākin) with surrender and awe—an essential inner posture for Liṅga-upāsanā, where devotion and humility invite the Lord’s prasāda (grace).

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

Śiva is named Parameśvara (Supreme Lord) and shown as prasanna (gracious), indicating Pati-tattva: the sovereign who, when pleased, loosens pāśa (bondage) and uplifts the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is praṇāma with bhakti and bhaya-bhāva (reverent awe), a foundational Pāśupata orientation—approaching the Guru-Lord with surrender before receiving liberating instruction.