Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

अर्थितव्यः सदाचारः सर्वशंभुर्महेश्वरः ईश्वरः स्थाणुरीशानः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात्

Transliteration

arthitavyaḥ sadācāraḥ sarvaśaṃbhurmaheśvaraḥ īśvaraḥ sthāṇurīśānaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ sahasrapāt

Translation

He is the One to be entreated and sought with devotion; He is Right Conduct itself. He is all-auspicious Śambhu, the Great Lord—Īśvara, the immovable Pillar (Sthāṇu), and Īśāna, the sovereign ruler. He is the Thousand‑eyed and the Thousand‑footed Lord, pervading all as Pati over every paśu (bound soul).

Word by Word

• अर्थितव्यः (arthitavyaḥ): to be entreated, worthy to be supplicated

• सदाचारः (sadācāraḥ): right conduct, righteous observance

• सर्वशंभुः (sarvaśaṃbhuḥ): all-auspicious Śambhu, benefactor of all

• महेश्वरः (maheśvaraḥ): the Great Lord

• ईश्वरः (īśvaraḥ): Lord, supreme controller

• स्थाणुः (sthāṇuḥ): the immovable one, the steadfast pillar

• ईशानः (īśānaḥ): ruler, overlord (also the Īśāna aspect of Śiva)

• सहस्राक्षः (sahasrākṣaḥ): thousand-eyed, all-seeing

• सहस्रपात् (sahasrapāt): thousand-footed, all-pervading

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva Sahasranama section to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva as Sthāṇu—the unmoving, pillar-like Absolute—supporting the Linga theology where the worshipper approaches the steadfast Pati through praise, supplication, and disciplined sadācāra.

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

Shiva is presented as Īśvara/Īśāna (sovereign Lord), Sthāṇu (unchanging reality), and Sahasrākṣa–Sahasrapāt (all-seeing, all-pervading), indicating transcendence with immanent governance over the bound souls (paśu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes stotra-japa and devotional supplication grounded in sadācāra—ethical discipline as the foundation for Shaiva sādhanā, aligning the paśu toward the Pati for loosening pāśa (bondage).