Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya

Devanagari script

स्छ्लरफ़्फ़ेन्लन्द् क्षीरधारासहस्रं च क्षीरोदार्णवमेव च दध्यादेरर्णवं चैव घृतोदार्णवमेव च

Transliteration

Schlaraffenland kṣīradhārāsahasraṃ ca kṣīrodārṇavameva ca dadhyāderarṇavaṃ caiva ghṛtodārṇavameva ca

Translation

Hay miles de corrientes de leche que fluyen; y también un océano de leche—un océano de cuajada (dadhi) y cosas semejantes, y asimismo un océano de ghee (ghṛta). Así se describe el reino como rebosante de sustancias auspiciosas de sacrificio, que sostienen la pureza y el culto al Pati (el Señor Śiva).

Word by Word

• kṣīra: milk

• dhārā: stream/flow

• sahasram: a thousand (many)

• ca: and

• kṣīra-udaka-arṇavaḥ: ocean of milk

• eva: indeed/only

• dadhy-ādeḥ: of curd and similar (milk-products)

• arṇavaḥ: ocean

• caiva: and also

• ghṛta: ghee/clarified butter

• udaka-arṇavaḥ: ocean (lit. watery ocean) of

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 emphasizes purity and auspiciousness through kṣīra (milk), dadhi (curd), and ghṛta (ghee)—key substances in Vedic offerings and abhiṣeka—implying that Shiva’s domain supports sattvic worship and consecration of the Linga.

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

By depicting inexhaustible oceans of sanctifying substances, it points to Pati as the inexhaustible source of grace and purity—Shiva-tattva as the ground of auspiciousness that nourishes and liberates the paśu (soul) from pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritually, it aligns with abhiṣeka and homa materials (milk, curd, ghee). Yogically, it supports the Pāśupata ideal of inner purification (śuddhi) as a prerequisite for devotion to Pati.