Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

त्रियंबकं यजामहे त्रैलोक्यपितरं प्रभुम् त्रिमण्डलस्य पितरं त्रिगुणस्य महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

triyaṃbakaṃ yajāmahe trailokyapitaraṃ prabhum trimaṇḍalasya pitaraṃ triguṇasya maheśvaram

Translation

Nous adorons Triyambaka, le Seigneur aux trois yeux—Souverain Maître et Père des trois mondes; Père de la triple sphère cosmique, et Maheśvara qui préside aux trois guṇa. En tant que Pati, Lui seul est refuge, Celui qui desserre le pāśa liant le paśu.

Word by Word

• त्रियंबकम्: the three-eyed One (Shiva)

• यजामहे: we worship / we offer adoration

• त्रैलोक्य-पितरम्: the Father of the three worlds

• प्रभुम्: the Lord, sovereign

• त्रि-मण्डलस्य: of the three spheres/realms (cosmic triad)

• पितरम्: father, progenitor

• त्रि-गुणस्य: of the three guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas)

• महेश्वरम्: the Great Lord (Maheshvara)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shaiva stuti within the Purva-Bhaga discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Triyambaka/Maheshvara)

FAQs

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

It frames Linga‑puja as worship of Shiva as the supreme Pati: the father and sovereign of all three worlds, worthy of Vedic-style adoration (yajāmahe) and approached as the cosmic source and protector.

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

Shiva is presented as Triyambaka and Maheshvara—transcendent yet immanent—who governs the three guṇas and the entire triadic cosmos, standing above bondage as the Lord who can free the pashu from pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is worship/adoration (yajāmahe) as a disciplined offering—supporting Shaiva puja and, in a Pashupata sense, cultivating surrender to Pati as the means to loosen the bonds of the soul.