Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 164

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

एकं स्थूलं सूक्ष्ममेकं सुसूक्ष्मं मूर्तामूर्तं मूर्तमेकं ह्यमूर्तम् एकं दृष्टं वाङ्मयं चैकमीशं ध्येयं चैकं तत्त्वमत्राद्भुतं ते

Transliteration

ekaṃ sthūlaṃ sūkṣmamekaṃ susūkṣmaṃ mūrtāmūrtaṃ mūrtamekaṃ hyamūrtam ekaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ vāṅmayaṃ caikamīśaṃ dhyeyaṃ caikaṃ tattvamatrādbhutaṃ te

Translation

Un seul est le Grossier, un seul est le Subtil, et un seul est le Suprêmement subtil. Un seul est avec forme et sans forme : l’Un se manifeste comme forme, et ce même Un est sans forme. L’Un est vu directement; l’Un est aussi connu par la parole sacrée. Ce Seigneur unique est celui qu’il faut méditer. Cette unique Réalité (tattva) est merveilleuse : telle est l’instruction qui t’est donnée.

Word by Word

• एकम् (ekam): the One (non-dual Reality/Īśvara)

• स्थूलम् (sthūlam): gross, tangible manifestation

• सूक्ष्मम् (sūkṣmam): subtle principle

• सुसूक्ष्मम् (susūkṣmam): extremely subtle, beyond ordinary mind

• मूर्त-अमूर्तम् (mūrta-amūrtam): having form and being formless

• मूर्तम् (mūrtam): embodied/manifest form

• हि (hi): indeed

• अमूर्तम् (amūrtam): formless, unembodied

• दृष्टम् (dṛṣṭam): seen/experienced directly

• वाङ्मयम् (vāṅmayam): constituted of speech—Veda/Mantra/Śāstra

• च (ca): and

• एकम् (ekam): one alone

• ईशम् (īśam): the Lord, Pati

• ध्येयम् (dhyeyam): to be meditated upon

• तत्त्वम् (tattvam): true principle, Shiva-tattva

• अत्र (atra): here (in this teaching/context)

• अद्भुतम् (adbhutam): marvelous, wondrous

• ते (te): to you

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching on Shiva-tattva to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Īśa/Pati)

FAQs

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

It establishes the Linga as the sign of the One Lord who is simultaneously manifest (mūrta) and unmanifest (amūrta), making Linga-puja a bridge between visible worship and the realization of the formless Shiva-tattva.

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

Shiva is presented as the single Pati who pervades all levels—gross, subtle, and supremely subtle—knowable both by direct experience (dṛṣṭa) and through Vedic/mantric revelation (vāṅmaya), and therefore the supreme object of dhyāna.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights dhyāna (meditation) on the One Īśa: in practice, Pashupata-oriented sadhana pairs mantra-based contemplation (vāṅmaya) with inward realization of the formless within the formed symbol (Linga).