Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 118

अध्याय ८२ — व्यपोहनस्तवः (पापव्यपोहन-स्तोत्रम्)

Devanagari script

तत्पुण्यं कोटिगुणितं जप्त्वा चाप्नोति मानवः गोघ्नश्चैव कृतघ्नश् च वीरहा ब्रह्महा भवेत्

Transliteration

tatpuṇyaṃ koṭiguṇitaṃ japtvā cāpnoti mānavaḥ goghnaścaiva kṛtaghnaś ca vīrahā brahmahā bhavet

Translation

Al recitar ese japa, el ser humano alcanza un mérito multiplicado por un koṭi. Pero quien mata una vaca, quien es ingrato, quien mata a un héroe y quien mata a un brāhmaṇa se vuelve un pecador gravísimo, digno de ser tenido por brahma-han, matador de un brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• tat-puṇyam: that merit

• koṭi-guṇitam: multiplied by ten million (a crore)

• japtvā: having repeated (as japa)

• ca: and

• āpnoti: attains

• mānavaḥ: a human being

• go-ghnaḥ: cow-killer

• ca eva: indeed

• kṛta-ghnaḥ: one who destroys gratitude/benefit (ingrate)

• ca: and

• vīra-hā: slayer of a hero/brave man

• brahma-hā: killer of a brāhmaṇa

• bhavet: becomes

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links Linga-oriented japa with immense spiritual merit, while warning that grave adharmic acts destroy purity and obstruct the fruit of worship; Linga-puja must be grounded in dharma and self-restraint.

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

Shiva-tattva is approached through japa that elevates the pashu (bound soul) toward Pati (the Lord), but the verse underscores that access to Shiva’s grace is safeguarded by ethical purity—pāpa strengthens pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa is highlighted as a primary Shaiva sādhanā; implicitly it requires yama-like restraints (non-violence, gratitude, reverence for the righteous) for japa to yield siddhi and purify the pashu from pāśa.