Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

अपरामृष्टमद्यैव विज्ञेयं मुक्तिदं त्विदम् अज्ञानमलपूर्वत्वात् पुरुषो मलिनः स्मृतः

Transliteration

aparāmṛṣṭamadyaiva vijñeyaṃ muktidaṃ tvidam ajñānamalapūrvatvāt puruṣo malinaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

જેમ સંસ્કાર-સ્પર્શ વિના રહેલું મદ્ય ત્યાજ્ય ગણાય છે, તેમ આ ઉપદેશને ‘મુક્તિદાયક’ તરીકે જાણવો જોઈએ. કારણ કે પુરુષ અજ્ઞાન-મલથી પહેલેથી આવૃત હોવાથી ‘મલિન’ કહેવાયો છે।

Word by Word

• अपरामृष्ट (aparāmṛṣṭa): not touched/unsanctified

• मद्य (madya): liquor/intoxicant

• एव (eva): just so/indeed

• विज्ञेयम् (vijñeyam): should be known/understood

• मुक्तिदम् (muktidam): bestowing liberation

• तु (tu): but/indeed

• इदम् (idam): this (teaching)

• अज्ञान (ajñāna): ignorance

• मल (mala): impurity/defilement

• पूर्वत्वात् (pūrvatvāt): because it is prior/primary

• पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ): the soul/individual self

• मलिनः (malinaḥ): impure/stained

• स्मृतः (smṛtaḥ): is said/remembered in tradition

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva doctrine as received in the Linga Purana tradition)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship and Shaiva practice as a sanctifying process: the pashu (soul) is naturally covered by mala (impurity), and only through Shiva-oriented purification and right knowledge does one become fit for moksha.

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

By implying liberation comes through the muktida (liberation-giving) Shaiva teaching, it points to Shiva as Pati—the pure Lord whose grace and knowledge remove the soul’s ajñāna-mala and end bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the principle of sanctification (saṃskāra/śuddhi) and inner purification: in Pashupata-oriented discipline, impurity (mala) is removed through Shiva-bhakti, mantra, and right knowledge leading to liberation.