Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

देवादिसृष्टिकथनम् (वसिष्ठशोकः, पराशरजन्म, एकलिङ्गपूजा, रुद्रदर्शनम्)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वाथ धर्मज्ञा कराभ्यां कमलेक्षणा उत्थाप्य श्वशुरं नत्वा नेत्रे संमृज्य वारिणा

Transliteration

evamuktvātha dharmajñā karābhyāṃ kamalekṣaṇā utthāpya śvaśuraṃ natvā netre saṃmṛjya vāriṇā

Translation

Ayant ainsi parlé, la dame aux yeux de lotus, connaissant le dharma, releva son beau-père de ses deux mains. S’inclinant devant lui, elle lui essuya doucement les yeux avec de l’eau, lui rendant son calme par un service juste et compatissant.

Word by Word

• evam: thus

• uktvā: having spoken

• atha: then

• dharmajñā: knower of dharma (righteous conduct)

• karābhyām: with (both) hands

• kamalekṣaṇā: lotus-eyed woman

• utthāpya: having lifted/raised

• śvaśuram: the father-in-law

• natvā: having bowed (in reverence)

• netre: the eyes

• saṃmṛjya: having wiped/cleansed

• vāriṇā: with water

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 Shiva-bhakti as dharmic seva: purity (water), humility (bowing), and compassionate care—inner qualities that make Linga-puja spiritually effective, beyond mere external ritual.

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

By highlighting dharma and compassion, the narrative points to Shiva as Pati—the inner witness and purifier—whose grace is approached through sattvic conduct that loosens pasha (bondage) upon the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A purification motif using water (vāri) and reverential prostration (namana), aligning with Shaiva practice where external cleanliness supports inner steadiness (yoga) and devotional discipline (upacāra-bhakti).