Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

वीतरागो विनीतात्मा तपस्वी भूतभावनः उन्मत्तवेषः प्रच्छन्नो जितकामो जितप्रियः

Transliteration

vītarāgo vinītātmā tapasvī bhūtabhāvanaḥ unmattaveṣaḥ pracchanno jitakāmo jitapriyaḥ

Translation

Free from passion, humble in spirit, an austere ascetic and the sanctifier of all beings—He moves about in the guise of a madman, remaining concealed; He has conquered desire (kāma) and transcended attachment to what is dear.

Word by Word

• वीतरागः: free from passion/attachment

• विनीतात्मा: disciplined and humble-minded

• तपस्वी: practitioner of tapas, ascetic

• भूतभावनः: nourisher/sanctifier of beings (one who brings beings into well-being)

• उन्मत्तवेषः: wearing the appearance of a madman

• प्रच्छन्नः: hidden, veiled, incognito

• जितकामः: one who has conquered desire

• जितप्रियः: one who has conquered fondness/attachment to the प्रिय (dear objects/relations)

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 frames Shiva (the Linga’s indwelling Pati) as inwardly perfect—beyond desire and attachment—so Linga-puja is oriented to inner purification (vairagya and tapas) rather than mere external display.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as transcendent and self-controlled (jitakāma), yet immanent as bhūtabhāvana—uplifting all beings—while remaining “pracchanna,” beyond ordinary recognition and worldly measures.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pashupata-oriented yoga of renunciation: conquering kāma (desire) and priya (clinging), sustaining tapas, and maintaining humility—qualities that make puja effective by loosening pāśa (bondage) in the paśu (soul).