Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

यतिप्रायश्चित्तविधानम्

Ascetic Atonements and Discipline

Devanagari script

चरेद्धि शुद्धः समलोष्टकाञ्चनः समस्तभूतेषु च सत्समाहितः स्थानं ध्रुवं शाश्वतमव्ययं तु परं हि गत्वा न पुनर्हि जायते

Transliteration

careddhi śuddhaḥ samaloṣṭakāñcanaḥ samastabhūteṣu ca satsamāhitaḥ sthānaṃ dhruvaṃ śāśvatamavyayaṃ tu paraṃ hi gatvā na punarhi jāyate

Translation

Qu’on vive dans la pureté, tenant pour égaux une motte de terre et l’or, et demeurant justement recueilli en conscience envers tous les êtres. Ayant atteint la demeure suprême, stable, éternelle et impérissable de Pati (Śiva), on ne renaît plus.

Word by Word

• cared: should conduct oneself/should live

• hi: indeed

• śuddhaḥ: purified, inwardly pure

• sama-loṣṭaka-āñcanaḥ: equal toward a lump of clay and gold (equanimous to low and high)

• samasta-bhūteṣu: toward all beings

• ca: and

• sat-samāhitaḥ: well-composed, firmly concentrated in the good/real (sat)

• sthānam: abode, state

• dhruvam: fixed, unwavering

• śāśvatam: eternal

• avyayam: imperishable

• tu: indeed

• param: the supreme

• gatvā: having attained

• na: not

• punaḥ: again

• hi: certainly

• jāyate: is born

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames true Linga-bhakti as inner purification and equanimity: worship culminates in becoming steady in Śiva-consciousness (Pati), not merely external ritual.

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

Śiva is indicated as the supreme, eternal, imperishable, and unwavering abode—attaining Him ends rebirth for the Pashu when bondage (pāśa) is dissolved.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-style discipline of śuddhācāra (purity), samatā (equal vision), and samādhāna (steady collectedness toward all beings) leading to moksha.