Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 140

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

दर्पहा दर्पितो दृप्तः सर्वर्तुपरिवर्तकः सप्तजिह्वः सहस्रार्चिः स्निग्धः प्रकृतिदक्षिणः

Transliteration

darpahā darpito dṛptaḥ sarvartuparivartakaḥ saptajihvaḥ sahasrārciḥ snigdhaḥ prakṛtidakṣiṇaḥ

Translation

He is the destroyer of pride; yet to His devotees of Śiva-bhakti He appears as the Giver of dignity and majesty. He is the radiant Lord who turns the wheel of all seasons. He is the seven-tongued Fire and the thousand-flamed Light; gentle and soothing in grace, rightly disposed toward Prakṛti, guiding Nature with mastery for the liberation of the bound paśu.

Word by Word

• दर्पहा (darpahā): destroyer of pride

• दर्पितः (darpitaḥ): one who makes (others) dignified/proud, bestower of honor

• दृप्तः (dṛptaḥ): majestic, intensely radiant, fearless

• सर्वर्तुपरिवर्तकः (sarvartu-parivartakaḥ): changer/turner of all seasons, regulator of cosmic cycles

• सप्तजिह्वः (sapta-jihvaḥ): seven-tongued (as Agni), having seven flames/tongues

• सहस्रार्चिः (sahasrārciḥ): thousand-rayed/thousand-flamed, of countless splendors

• स्निग्धः (snigdhaḥ): gentle, kindly, soothing, full of affection

• प्रकृतिदक्षिणः (prakṛti-dakṣiṇaḥ): skillful/rightly disposed toward Prakṛti (Nature), adept in directing material nature

Speaker

Suta Goswami (reciting Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni
• Prakriti

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who governs cosmic order (seasons, fire, radiance) and also softens the devotee through grace (snigdhaḥ). In Linga worship, this supports seeing the Linga as both transcendent light and immanent regulator of the world.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as paradoxically complete: He destroys ego (darpahā) yet empowers devotees with divine dignity (darpitaḥ); He is blazing consciousness (sahasrārciḥ) and also compassionate gentleness (snigdhaḥ). He directs Prakṛti without being bound by it, indicating lordship over māyā and the bonds (pāśa).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to inner-agni contemplation: meditating on Shiva as the seven-tongued, thousand-flamed light—purifying pride and bondage. In Pāśupata-oriented practice, this aligns with ego-eradication and directing the senses (Prakṛti) toward liberation.