Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

अन्धक-हिरण्याक्ष-प्रसङ्गः, वराहावतारः, दंष्ट्राभूषणं च

Devanagari script

धरा प्रतिष्ठिता ह्येवं देवदेवेन लीलया भूतानां संप्लवे चापि विष्णोश्चैव कलेवरम्

Transliteration

dharā pratiṣṭhitā hyevaṃ devadevena līlayā bhūtānāṃ saṃplave cāpi viṣṇoścaiva kalevaram

Translation

Ainsi, la Terre fut solidement établie par le Seigneur des seigneurs, simplement comme Sa līlā, Son jeu divin. Et au temps du déluge des êtres, même l’incarnation de Viṣṇu se trouve prise dans cette dissolution, montrant que toute forme demeure sous la souveraineté de Pati, Śiva suprême.

Word by Word

• dharā: the Earth

• pratiṣṭhitā: established, made firm

• hi: indeed

• evaṁ: thus

• devadevena: by the God of gods (Śiva)

• līlayā: by play, sportive will

• bhūtānām: of living beings/elements

• saṁplave: in the inundation, cosmic deluge

• ca api: and also

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu

• ca eva: and indeed

• kalevaram: body, embodiment, form

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Earth (Dhara)

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos—including Earth’s stability and its dissolution—as Śiva’s līlā, supporting Linga worship as devotion to the transcendent Pati beyond all changing forms.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as sovereign agency: He establishes the world and presides over pralaya, indicating that even divine embodiments (like Viṣṇu’s form) are within His cosmic governance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: cultivate vairāgya by contemplating pralaya and līlā, loosening pasha (bondage) so the pashu (soul) turns to Pati (Śiva) as the sole refuge.