Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

मदनदाहः — पार्वतीतपः, स्वयंवरलीला, देवस्तम्भनं, दिव्यचक्षुर्दानम्

Devanagari script

स बाहुरुद्यमस्तस्य तथैव समुपस्थितः स्तम्भितः शिशुरूपेण देवदेवेन लीलया

Transliteration

sa bāhurudyamastasya tathaiva samupasthitaḥ stambhitaḥ śiśurūpeṇa devadevena līlayā

Translation

Cuando alzó el brazo y avanzó, quedó al instante detenido—paralizado en esa misma postura—por el Deva de los devas, que por līlā se manifestaba en forma de niño.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• बाहुरुद्यमः (bāhu-udyamaḥ): the raising/effort of the arm

• तस्य (tasya): of him

• तथैव (tathaiva): just so/indeed

• समुपस्थितः (samupasthitaḥ): having come forward/approached

• स्तम्भितः (stambhitaḥ): immobilized, made rigid, restrained

• शिशुरूपेण (śiśu-rūpeṇa): in the form of a child

• देवदेवेन (deva-devena): by the God of gods (Pati, Śiva)

• लीलया (līlayā): playfully, as divine sport

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 highlights Devadeva (Śiva) as Pati—the supreme controller—who can instantly restrain worldly power and pride; Linga worship internalizes this truth by surrendering the pashu (individual soul) to Shiva’s governing presence.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as effortless sovereignty: without struggle, the Lord immobilizes action itself, revealing that all kriyā (activity) is ultimately under Pati’s command, expressed here through compassionate līlā.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The yogic takeaway is ego-restraint (ahaṅkāra-nirodha) through surrender to Pati; in Pāśupata-oriented practice, this aligns with cultivating humility and steadiness, recognizing Shiva as the inner governor who stills impulsive action.