Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Adhyaya 22 — शिवानुग्रहः, ब्रह्मतपः, एकादशरुद्राः तथा प्राणतत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

प्राणाः प्राणवतां ज्ञेयाः सर्वभूतेष्ववस्थिताः अत्युग्रस्य महत्त्वस्य साधुराचरितस्य च

Transliteration

prāṇāḥ prāṇavatāṃ jñeyāḥ sarvabhūteṣvavasthitāḥ atyugrasya mahattvasya sādhurācaritasya ca

Translation

Sache que les souffles de vie (prāṇa) appartiennent à tous les êtres incarnés et demeurent en chaque créature. Ils sont aussi la mesure par laquelle on comprend la grandeur de l’excessivement Ugra—le Seigneur terrible et de bon augure—ainsi que la conduite établie des sādhus.

Word by Word

• प्राणाः (prāṇāḥ): vital breaths, life-forces

• प्राणवताम् (prāṇavatām): of living/ensouled beings

• ज्ञेयाः (jñeyāḥ): to be known/understood

• सर्वभूतेषु (sarvabhūteṣu): in all beings

• अवस्थिताः (avasthitāḥ): abiding, situated

• अत्युग्रस्य (atyugrasya): of the exceedingly Ugra (a fierce form/epithet, especially of Śiva)

• महत्त्वस्य (mahattvasya): of greatness, majesty

• साधोः (sādhoḥ): of the virtuous person/saint

• आचरितस्य (ācaritasya): practiced conduct, lived discipline

• च (ca): and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching within the Purva-Bhaga framework)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It redirects worship from mere outer form to inner realization: the same prāṇa that sustains all beings is to be recognized as pervaded by Pati (Śiva), making Linga-pūjā fruitful when joined with inner discipline and reverence for life.

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

By invoking “Atyugra,” it points to Śiva as both fierce and supremely great—transcendent Pati who pervades the living field through prāṇa, while remaining the Lord beyond pashu (individual soul) and pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāṇa-awareness and prāṇa-samyama (regulated breath and life-force discipline) aligned with sādhūnām ācarita—ethical, satvic conduct—supporting Pāśupata-oriented practice alongside Linga-pūjā.