Shloka 1

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे यतिप्रायश्चित्तं नाम नवतितमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि अरिष्टानि निबोधत येन ज्ञानविशेषेण मृत्युं पश्यन्ति योगिनः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge yatiprāyaścittaṃ nāma navatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca ata ūrdhvaṃ pravakṣyāmi ariṣṭāni nibodhata yena jñānaviśeṣeṇa mṛtyuṃ paśyanti yoginaḥ

Translation

Demikianlah, dalam Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa (bagian awal), dimulailah bab ke-91 bernama “Atonemen bagi Para Yati”. Sūta berkata: “Selanjutnya akan kujelaskan tanda-tanda (ariṣṭa); pahamilah baik-baik—dengan pengetahuan khas itulah para yogin memandang Kematian sendiri.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the venerable Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrvabhāga)

• yati-prāyaścittam: atonement/penance for ascetics

• nāma: named

• navatitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the ninety-first chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• ataḥ ūrdhvam: henceforth/now onwards

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall expound

• ariṣṭāni: ominous signs/portents

• nibodhata: understand, take note

• yena: by which

• jñāna-viśeṣeṇa: by a particular/specialized knowledge (vijñāna)

• mṛtyum: Death

• paśyanti: they see/behold

• yoginaḥ: yogins/adepts

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Yogins
• Mrityu

FAQs

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

It frames the chapter as a Shaiva disciplinary teaching: purification (prāyaścitta) and higher knowledge are presented as supports for approaching the Lord (Pati) with inner cleanliness, which is foundational for meaningful Liṅga-upāsanā.

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

By implying a knowledge through which even Death is “seen,” it points to Shaiva insight where the yogin, taking refuge in Pati (Śiva), recognizes mortality as subordinate to the Lord’s sovereignty and thus loosens pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A blend of prāyaścitta (atonement/discipline for yatis) and jñāna-yoga: cultivating a specific liberating discernment (jñāna-viśeṣa) that gives fearlessness and clarity regarding mṛtyu.