Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 146

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

तमोविद्यापदच्छन्नं चित्रं यत्पदमव्ययम् सत्त्वशक्तिं समास्थाय शिवमभ्यर्चयेद्द्विजाः

Transliteration

tamovidyāpadacchannaṃ citraṃ yatpadamavyayam sattvaśaktiṃ samāsthāya śivamabhyarcayeddvijāḥ

Translation

Cette Réalité impérissable (pada) paraît merveilleuse, bien qu’elle soit voilée par l’état de tamas et par l’ignorance (avidyā). Ainsi, ô deux-fois-nés, en vous établissant dans la puissance du sattva (sattva-śakti), adorez Śiva—le Pati qui relâche les liens (pāśa) du paśu.

Word by Word

• तमो: darkness/tamas

• विद्या: knowledge (here, misconstrued/obscured cognition)

• पदच्छन्नम्: covered/veiled by a ‘pada’ or state

• चित्रम्: wondrous/variegated/mysterious

• यत्: which/that

• पदम्: state/abode/Reality

• अव्ययम्: imperishable/unchanging

• सत्त्वशक्तिम्: the power of sattva (purity, lucidity)

• समास्थाय: having taken refuge in/establishing oneself in

• शिवम्: Śiva (the auspicious Lord, Pati)

• अभ्यर्चयेत्: should worship with reverence

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa/initiated).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja principles to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-puja as not merely external ritual but an inner shift to sattva—clarity and purity—so the devotee can approach the imperishable Shiva-pada beyond tamas and ignorance.

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

Shiva is implied as the avyaya (imperishable) Reality that seems ‘wondrous’ and hidden to the tamasic mind; as Pati, he is approached through sattvic power that reveals rather than obscures.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A sattva-based discipline: establishing oneself in sattva-shakti (purification, clarity, right intention) as the qualifying inner yoga for effective Shiva-archana (reverential worship).