Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

ब्रह्मकृत-ईशानस्तवः तथा विश्वरूपदेवी-प्रकृतिरहस्योपदेशः

Devanagari script

शृणुष्वैतत्परं गुह्यम् आदिसर्गे यथा तथा एवं यो वर्तते कल्पो विश्वरूपस्त्वसौ मतः

Transliteration

śṛṇuṣvaitatparaṃ guhyam ādisarge yathā tathā evaṃ yo vartate kalpo viśvarūpastvasau mataḥ

Translation

Écoute ce secret suprême : comme il en fut lors de la création primordiale, ainsi se déroule l’éon présent. C’est pourquoi ce kalpa en cours est reconnu comme « Viśvarūpa » — la Forme de l’Univers — où toutes les formes se déploient dans la manifestation ordonnée du Seigneur.

Word by Word

• शृणुष्व (śṛṇuṣva): listen

• एतत् (etat): this

• परम् (param): supreme

• गुह्यम् (guhyam): secret, esoteric truth

• आदिसर्गे (ādi-sarge): in the first/primordial creation

• यथा (yathā): as, just as

• तथा (tathā): so, in the same manner

• एवम् (evaṃ): thus

• यः (yaḥ): which

• वर्तते (vartate): proceeds, continues

• कल्पः (kalpaḥ): aeon, cosmic cycle

• विश्वरूपः (viśvarūpaḥ): universe-formed, all-encompassing form

• तु (tu): indeed

• असौ (asau): that (this very one)

• मतः (mataḥ): is held/considered, is understood

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 creation as a repeating sacred pattern (kalpa) within the Lord’s all-form (Viśvarūpa), supporting Linga worship as aligning the devotee (paśu) with Pati’s cosmic order rather than mere worldly ritual.

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

By implying a universe-form (Viśvarūpa) that governs recurring creation, it points to Shiva as Pati: the transcendent yet immanent ground in whom cyclical manifestation appears without compromising the supreme, hidden (guhya) reality.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No single rite is named, but the verse supports Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: meditating on cyclical sarga and the Lord as Viśvarūpa to loosen pāśa (bondage) through right vision (jñāna) and disciplined practice.