Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

भुवनकोशविन्यासनिर्णयः (ज्योतिर्गति-वृष्टिचक्र-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

पर्यपृच्छेत् पतङ्गो ऽपि सौम्याशां चोत्तरे ऽहनि मध्ये तु पुष्करस्याथ भ्रमते दक्षिणायने

Transliteration

paryapṛcchet pataṅgo 'pi saumyāśāṃ cottare 'hani madhye tu puṣkarasyātha bhramate dakṣiṇāyane

Translation

પતંગ (સૂર્ય) પણ જાણે પૂછપરછ-શોધ કરતો ઉત્તરાયણમાં સૌમ્ય ઉત્તર દિશા તરફ આગળ વધે છે; પરંતુ દક્ષિણાયણમાં તે પુષ્કરના મધ્યને ચારે તરફ ફરતો હોવાનું કહેવાય છે.

Word by Word

• पर्यपृच्छेत्: would inquire, would seek about

• पतङ्गः: the Sun (lit. ‘moving-winged’)

• अपि: even

• सौम्य-आशाम्: the gentle/northern direction

• च: and

• उत्तरे अहनि: on the northern course (uttarāyaṇa period)

• मध्ये: in the middle/center

• तु: but

• पुष्करस्य: of Puṣkara (the sacred tīrtha/region)

• अथ: then/indeed

• भ्रमते: moves about, revolves

• दक्षिणायने: in the southern course (dakṣiṇāyaṇa period)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Pushkara
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links cosmic rhythm (the Sun’s northern/southern course) with sacred geography, implying that Linga worship and tīrtha-observance are aligned with ṛta (cosmic order) to help the pashu approach Pati.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as the stabilizing sacred center: even planetary movement is portrayed as orienting toward a holy ‘middle,’ reflecting Pati as the inner axis around which the bound soul (pashu) can re-order itself.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Timing and orientation of vrata/pilgrimage: observing dharma with awareness of uttarāyaṇa/dakṣiṇāyaṇa and approaching a tīrtha as part of disciplined Pāśupata-style purification (reducing pāśa through niyama and sacred contact).