Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

तस्माद्ध्यानरतिर्नित्यम् अमात्रं हि तदक्षरम् उपास्यं हि प्रयत्नेन शाश्वतं सुखमिच्छता

Transliteration

tasmāddhyānaratirnityam amātraṃ hi tadakṣaram upāsyaṃ hi prayatnena śāśvataṃ sukhamicchatā

Translation

Therefore, one should ever delight in meditation; for that Imperishable Reality is Amātra—beyond measure and beyond syllabic parts. It must be worshipped with sustained effort by the seeker who longs for eternal bliss: union with Pati (Śiva), liberator of the paśu from pāśa.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore

• ध्यान-रतिः: delight/absorption in meditation

• नित्यम्: always

• अमात्रम्: beyond measure, without parts (beyond the mātrās of sound/Om)

• हि: indeed

• तत्: that

• अक्षरम्: the Imperishable (Akṣara, Supreme principle)

• उपास्यम्: to be worshipped/steadily contemplated

• हि: surely

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort, discipline

• शाश्वतम्: eternal

• सुखम्: bliss

• इच्छता: by one who desires

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It redirects Linga-upāsanā from mere external form to inner dhyāna—worship of Śiva as the Akṣara, the imperishable Pati, approached through steady contemplative practice.

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

Śiva is indicated as ‘amātra’ and ‘akṣara’—beyond measurable attributes and beyond fragmented sound-parts—signifying the transcendent Lord who grants śāśvata-sukha (endless bliss) and releases the soul from bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nitya-dhyāna with disciplined upāsanā (sustained contemplative worship)—a yogic emphasis aligned with Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā where inner absorption is primary.