Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

अध्याय १०१: हैमवती-तपः, तारकवंश-उत्पातः, स्कन्द-प्रत्याशा, मदनदहनम्

Devanagari script

यदा विष्णुश् च भविता वासुदेवो महायशाः शापाद्भृगोर्महातेजाः सर्वलोकहिताय वै

Transliteration

yadā viṣṇuś ca bhavitā vāsudevo mahāyaśāḥ śāpādbhṛgormahātejāḥ sarvalokahitāya vai

Translation

Lorsque, par la puissante malédiction du grand Bhṛgu à l’éclat immense, Viṣṇu—de vaste renommée—se manifeste en Vāsudeva, c’est assurément pour le bien de tous les mondes. Les sages le savent : de telles descentes s’accomplissent sous la seigneurie de Pati, Śiva, qui transforme même une malédiction en moyen de loka-hita et en relâchement du pasha qui entrave les êtres incarnés.

Word by Word

• यदा (yadā): when

• विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ): Vishnu

• च (ca): and

• भविता (bhavitā): will become/shall come to be

• वासुदेवः (vāsudevaḥ): Vasudeva (incarnate Vishnu)

• महायशाः (mahāyaśāḥ): of great fame/glory

• शापात् (śāpāt): from/owing to a curse

• भृगोः (bhṛgoḥ): of Bhrigu

• महातेजाः (mahātejāḥ): of great radiance/power

• सर्वलोकहिताय (sarvalokahitāya): for the benefit of all worlds

• वै (vai): indeed/verily

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya; reporting an internal account connected with Bhrigu’s curse)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vasudeva
• Bhrigu

FAQs

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

It frames avatāra and cosmic events as ultimately serving sarvaloka-hita; in a Śaiva reading, such welfare is fulfilled through Pati (Śiva), whose Linga signifies the supreme ground that can transform even a curse into a path of protection and upliftment for beings.

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

Though Śiva is not named, the verse implies a providential order where events like Bhṛgu’s curse culminate in world-benefit; Śiva-tattva as Pati is the transcendent governor who converts karma and conflict into instruments for the liberation-oriented good of pashus.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is stated; the takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: accept the play of karma (including adversity) with devotion and inner steadiness, seeing it as a means for loosening pasha and turning life toward dharma and Shiva-centered worship.