Shloka 1

Adhyaya 35 — दधीचि-क्षुप-युद्धम्, भार्गवोपदेशः, मृतसंजीवनी (त्र्यम्बक) मन्त्रः

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे योगिप्रशंसा नाम चतुस्त्रिंशो ऽध्यायः सनत्कुमार उवाच कथं जघान राजानं क्षुपं पादेन सुव्रत दधीचः समरे जित्वा देवदेवं जनार्दनम्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge yogipraśaṃsā nāma catustriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ sanatkumāra uvāca kathaṃ jaghāna rājānaṃ kṣupaṃ pādena suvrata dadhīcaḥ samare jitvā devadevaṃ janārdanam

Translation

Ainsi s’achève, dans le Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa (Pūrva-bhāga), le trente-quatrième chapitre intitulé «Louange des yogins». Sanatkumāra dit : «Ô toi aux vœux excellents, comment Dadhīci, après avoir vaincu au combat même Janārdana—le “dieu des dieux”—abattit-il le roi Kṣupa d’un seul coup de pied?»

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the sacred Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• yogi-praśaṃsā: praise of yogins

• nāma: named

• catustriṃśaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the thirty-fourth chapter

• sanatkumāra uvāca: Sanatkumāra said

• katham: how

• jaghāna: struck down/killed

• rājānam: the king

• kṣupam: (named) Kṣupa

• pādena: with the foot

• suvrata: O virtuous one/O you of good vows

• dadhīcaḥ: the sage Dadhīca

• samare: in battle

• jitvā: having conquered

• devadevam: the God of gods

• janārdanam: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Dadhichi
• Janardana (Vishnu)
• King Kshupa

FAQs

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

It functions as a narrative bridge: after praising yogins, the text turns to a yogic exemplar (Dadhīca) whose vow-power (vrata) and spiritual attainment hint at the kind of inner discipline that makes Liṅga-pūjā transformative rather than merely external.

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

Indirectly, by foregrounding yogic supremacy and the “God of gods” motif: in Śaiva Siddhānta framing, such supremacy ultimately belongs to Pati (Śiva), and yogic power is a derivative śakti that arises when the pashu (soul) is purified of pāśa (bondage) through discipline and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on vrata (sacred vow/observance) and yogic mastery—key Pāśupata themes—implying that austerity, restraint, and concentrated practice are the inner supports of effective worship and spiritual victory.