Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

Devanagari script

लिंगं द्विविधं प्रोक्तं बाह्यमाभ्यंतरं द्विजाः । बाह्यं स्थूलं समुद्दिष्टं सूक्ष्ममाभ्यंतरं मतम्

Transliteration

liṃgaṃ dvividhaṃ proktaṃ bāhyamābhyaṃtaraṃ dvijāḥ | bāhyaṃ sthūlaṃ samuddiṣṭaṃ sūkṣmamābhyaṃtaraṃ matam

Translation

Ô deux-fois-nés, il est proclamé que le Liṅga est de deux sortes : extérieur et intérieur. L’extérieur est décrit comme la forme grossière et tangible ; l’intérieur est tenu pour la forme subtile, réalisée au-dedans.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (symbol/mark)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular

• द्विविधम्: twofold
• द्विविधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; द्विगु-समासः (द्वौ विधौ यस्य) used adjectivally

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared/said
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√वच् (धातु) क्त—कृदन्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP; impersonal passive sense ‘has been said’

• बाह्यम्: external
• बाह्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying लिङ्गम्

• आभ्यन्तरम्: internal
• आभ्यन्तरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying लिङ्गम्

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th—सम्बोधन), Plural

• बाह्यम्: the external (one)
• बाह्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; (elliptic) ‘the external (liṅga)’

• स्थूलम्: gross
• स्थूलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; adjective

• समुद्दिष्टम्: is indicated/defined
• समुद्दिष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उद्+√दिश् (धातु) क्त—कृदन्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP; ‘is indicated/defined’

• सूक्ष्मम्: subtle
• सूक्ष्मम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; adjective

• आभ्यन्तरम्: the internal (one)
• आभ्यन्तरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; (elliptic) ‘the internal (liṅga)’

• मतम्: is considered
• मतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु) क्त—कृदन्त / मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP in sense ‘is considered/held to be’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific (sthala) narration; the verse gives a doctrinal typology of liṅga as bāhya (external) and ābhyantara (internal), used across Śiva temples and household worship.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage and temple-darśana as a support for realizing the inner liṅga (antarliṅga): external worship matures into inward recognition of Śiva as the indwelling Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that Śiva is approached both through a visible symbol (external Liṅga worship) and through inward realization (the subtle, internal Liṅga), harmonizing temple-ritual devotion with meditative Shaiva practice aimed at liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The “external, gross” Liṅga supports Saguna upāsanā—devotion with form, offerings, and pūjā—while the “internal, subtle” Liṅga points to contemplating Śiva’s presence within, where the symbol becomes a doorway to the formless reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform outward Liṅga-pūjā (water, bilva, mantra) while cultivating inner japa and dhyāna—especially Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—to recognize the subtle Liṅga as Śiva’s presence in consciousness.