Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Varaha-Pradurbhava Context: Prahlada’s Bhakti, Narasimha’s Ugra-Form, and Shiva’s Sharabha Intervention

Devanagari script

स्थूलं सूक्ष्मं सुसूक्ष्मं च शब्दब्रह्ममयः शुभः वागतीतो निरालंबो निर्द्वन्द्वो निरुपप्लवः

Transliteration

sthūlaṃ sūkṣmaṃ susūkṣmaṃ ca śabdabrahmamayaḥ śubhaḥ vāgatīto nirālaṃbo nirdvandvo nirupaplavaḥ

Translation

वह स्थूल भी हैं, सूक्ष्म भी और अतिसूक्ष्म भी; शुभ हैं, शब्द-ब्रह्ममय हैं। वाणी से परे, निरालम्ब, द्वन्द्वातीत, और निर्विघ्न-निरुपद्रव स्वरूप हैं—वही पति जो पशु को पाश से मुक्त करते हैं।

Word by Word

• स्थूलम्: gross/manifest

• सूक्ष्मम्: subtle

• सुसूक्ष्मम्: most subtle/transcendentally fine

• च: and

• शब्दब्रह्ममयः: consisting of Śabda-Brahman (the Absolute as sacred sound)

• शुभः: auspicious/beneficent

• वागतीतः: beyond speech

• निरालम्बः: without support/independent

• निर्द्वन्द्वः: free from pairs of opposites

• निरुपप्लवः: undisturbed, free from agitation/affliction

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-tattva to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Liṅga as Shiva’s all-pervading reality across levels—gross (ritual icon), subtle (inner presence), and supremely subtle (transcendent Pati)—making pūjā a bridge from form to formless realization.

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

Shiva is presented as Śabda-Brahman yet beyond speech, independent (nirālamba), non-dual (nirdvandva), and ever-unperturbed—attributes of the supreme Pati who is untouched by māyā’s disturbances.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It implies Pāśupata-oriented interiorization: moving from external Liṅga-pūjā (sthūla) to mantra and nāda contemplation (śabda-brahman) and finally to nirvikalpa awareness beyond vāk and dvandva.