Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य — काशी-वाराणसी में मोक्ष, लिङ्ग-तीर्थ-मानचित्र, और उपासना-विधि

Devanagari script

तुङ्गाग्रैर् नीलपुष्पस्तबकभरनतप्रांशुशाखैर् अशोकैर् दोलाप्रान्तान्तनीलश्रुतिसुखजनकैर् भासितान्तं मनोज्ञैः रात्रौ चन्द्रस्य भासा कुसुमिततिलकैरेकतां सम्प्रयातं छायासुप्तप्रबुद्धस्थितहरिणकुलालुप्तदूर्वाङ्कुराग्रम्

Transliteration

tuṅgāgrair nīlapuṣpastabakabharanataprāṃśuśākhair aśokair dolāprāntāntanīlaśrutisukhajanakair bhāsitāntaṃ manojñaiḥ rātrau candrasya bhāsā kusumitatilakairekatāṃ samprayātaṃ chāyāsuptaprabuddhasthitahariṇakulāluptadūrvāṅkurāgram

Translation

Avec de hauts aśoka — élancés, leurs branches supérieures ployant sous le poids de grappes de fleurs bleu sombre — l’étendue charmante resplendissait, et l’oreille se réjouissait du profond bourdonnement bleuté aux extrémités des balançoires. La nuit, elle semblait se fondre dans la clarté lunaire, comme marquée de tilakas en fleurs ; et dans ses ombres, des hardes de cerfs dormaient, puis s’éveillaient et demeuraient debout, sans piétiner la pointe des pousses d’herbe dūrvā. Dans une telle quiétude sanctifiée, l’esprit se tourne spontanément vers Pati (Śiva), le Seigneur qui desserre les pāsas du paśu par une contemplation sereine et sattvique.

Word by Word

• तुङ्गाग्रैः: with lofty tops

• नीलपुष्प-स्तबक: clusters of dark-blue flowers

• भर-नत: bent by weight

• प्रांशु-शाखैः: with tall/lofty branches

• अशोकैः: with aśoka trees

• दोला: swing

• प्रान्त-अन्त: at the far ends

• नील: dark-blue/deep-toned

• श्रुति-सुख-जनकैः: producing pleasure for the hearing (pleasant sound)

• भासित-अन्तम्: whose expanse is made radiant

• मनोज्ञैः: charming, delightful

• रात्रौ: at night

• चन्द्रस्य: of the moon

• भासा: by radiance/light

• कुसुमित-तिलकैः: by blossoming tilaka-like marks

• एकताम्: oneness, unity

• सम्प्रयातम्: having attained/merged into

• छाया: shade

• सुप्त: asleep

• प्रबुद्ध: awakened

• स्थित: standing/remaining

• हरिण-कुल: herd of deer

• अलुप्त: not destroyed/undisturbed

• दूर्वा-अङ्कुर-अग्रम्: the tips of dūrvā grass sprouts

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?

The verse sanctifies the worship-setting: a pure, undisturbed grove and moonlit stillness are portrayed as naturally turning the mind inward—supporting liṅga-upāsanā where the paśu approaches Pati through calmness, purity, and focused contemplation.

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

Though Shiva is not described directly, the scene functions as a tattva-indicator: Shiva-tattva is the still, luminous ground in which agitation subsides—like moonlight unifying the landscape—hinting at Pati as the serene Lord who dissolves pasha (bondage) through inner clarity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It implies nocturnal dhyāna and sattvic temple-grove worship—an atmosphere suited to Pāśupata-oriented inwardness, where sense-restraint and tranquil attention support liṅga-pūjā and contemplation of Pati.