Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन मयाद्यानुमितं महत् भवान्तरकृतं पापं श्रुता निन्दा भवस्य तु

Transliteration

bahunātra kimuktena mayādyānumitaṃ mahat bhavāntarakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ śrutā nindā bhavasya tu

Translation

અહીં બહુ કહેવાનો શું લાભ? શરૂઆતથી જ મેં એક મહાસત્ય જાણી લીધું છે—અન્ય અવસ્થામાં (પૂર્વજન્મે) કરેલું પાપ પાકી ગયું છે; કારણ કે ભવ (શિવ)ની નિંદા સાંભળી અને સ્વીકારી લેવાઈ છે।

Word by Word

• bahunātra: here by many words

• kim uktena: what is the point of speaking

• mayā: by me

• ādi: from the beginning

• anumitam: inferred/ascertained

• mahat: great, grave

• bhava-antara-kṛtam: done in another condition/existence (former life/other state)

• pāpam: sin, demerit

• śrutā: heard

• nindā: censure, blame

• bhavasya: of Bhava (Śiva)

• tu: indeed, however

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal admonition within the Purva-Bhaga discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that disrespect toward Bhava (Śiva)—even merely hearing and entertaining slander—creates heavy pāpa, which obstructs the devotee’s eligibility (adhikāra) for Liṅga-pūjā and its fruit.

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

By treating Śiva-nindā as a uniquely grave fault, the verse implies Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord—whose honor is inseparable from dharma; contempt for Him tightens pāśa (bondage) upon the paśu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied discipline is vāg-śuddhi (purity of speech) and saṅga-tyāga (avoiding harmful company), a prerequisite for Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā and for effective Liṅga-pūjā without aparādha.