Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

ह्रस्वा तु प्रथमा मात्रा ततो दीर्घा त्वनन्तरम् ततः प्लुतवती चैव तृतीया चोपदिश्यते

Transliteration

hrasvā tu prathamā mātrā tato dīrghā tvanantaram tataḥ plutavatī caiva tṛtīyā copadiśyate

Translation

The short measure is taught as the first mātrā; next comes the long measure; and then the prolonged (pluta) measure is instructed as the third.

Word by Word

• ह्रस्वा (hrasvā): short (vowel/time-unit)

• तु (tu): indeed

• प्रथमा (prathamā): first

• मात्रा (mātrā): measure (unit of time in pronunciation)

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereafter

• दीर्घा (dīrghā): long

• त्वनन्तरम् (tv anantaram): immediately after that

• ततः (tataḥ): then

• प्लुतवती (plutavatī): prolonged/pluta measure

• च (ca): and

• एव (eva): indeed

• तृतीया (tṛtīyā): third

• च (ca): and

• उपदिश्यते (upadiśyate): is taught/declared.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes correct mātrā (timed pronunciation) in mantra-japa; in Linga-pūjā, accurate sound-measure preserves mantra-śakti and supports disciplined worship of Pati (Shiva).

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

Implicitly, it points to Shiva as the Lord of mantra and śabda—Pati who is approached through regulated sacred sound, where precision in mātrā becomes a means for the bound soul (paśu) to move toward liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa discipline: distinguishing short, long, and pluta measures for accurate recitation—an essential support-practice for Pāśupata-oriented sādhana and pūjā-vidhi.