Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

शरभप्रादुर्भावो नाम षण्णवतितमोऽध्यायः (जलन्धरविमर्दनम्)

Devanagari script

सांबः सनन्दी सगणः प्रोवाच प्रहसन्निव किं कृत्यमसुरेशान युद्धेनानेन सांप्रतम्

Transliteration

sāṃbaḥ sanandī sagaṇaḥ provāca prahasanniva kiṃ kṛtyamasureśāna yuddhenānena sāṃpratam

Translation

Sāmbha, with Nandī and the other gaṇas, spoke as if with a faint smile: “O lord of the asuras, what purpose is served right now by this battle?”

Word by Word

• सांबः: Sāmbha (a leader among Śiva’s attendants)

• सनन्दी: with Nandī

• सगणः: together with the gaṇas (Śiva’s hosts)

• प्रोवाच: spoke, addressed

• प्रहसन्निव: as if smiling, lightly amused

• किं: what?

• कृत्यम्: purpose, duty, intended result

• असुरेशान: O lord of the asuras (vocative)

• युद्धेन: by/through battle

• अनेन: by this, with this

• सांप्रतम्: now, at present

Speaker

Sāmbha (a Śaiva gaṇa/attendant), within Sūta’s narration

Characters & Entities

• Sāmbha
• Nandī
• Gaṇas
• Asura-lord

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva’s gaṇas acting from higher discernment rather than egoic aggression, implying that devotion to the Liṅga (Pati) should mature into viveka—knowing when action (including battle) truly serves dharma.

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

Indirectly, through Sāmbha and Nandī’s composure: Śiva-tattva is sovereign and unshaken, and those aligned with Pati are not compelled by pasha-like impulses (anger, pride), but speak from clarity and mastery.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-style emphasis on detachment and right-intention (saṅkalpa-śuddhi): before acting, one examines the true ‘kṛtya’ (purpose), restraining reactive violence through disciplined awareness.