Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

ध्यानयोगेन रुद्रदर्शनम् — रुद्रावतार-परिवर्तक्रमः, लकुली (कायावतार), पाशुपतयोगः, लिङ्गार्चन-निष्ठा

Devanagari script

प्लक्षो दार्भायणिश्चैव केतुमान् गौतमस् तथा योगात्मानो महात्मानो नियता ऊर्ध्वरेतसः

Transliteration

plakṣo dārbhāyaṇiścaiva ketumān gautamas tathā yogātmāno mahātmāno niyatā ūrdhvaretasaḥ

Translation

プラクシャ、ダールバーヤニ、ケートゥマーン、そしてガウタマ——これらの大霊はヨーガに安住し、戒律と自制を具え、梵行の苦行者として精気を上方へと昇らせ、パーシャ（束縛）よりパシュ（個我）を解き放つ主宰パティたるシヴァへの道に専念していた。

Word by Word

• प्लक्षः (plakṣaḥ): Plakṣa (a sage)

• दार्भायणिः (dārbhāyaṇiḥ): Dārbhāyaṇi (a sage, descendant of Darbha)

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• केतुमान् (ketumān): Ketumān (a sage)

• गौतमः (gautamaḥ): Gautama (a sage)

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• योगात्मानः (yogātmānaḥ): those whose very nature is Yoga / yoga-souled

• महात्मानः (mahātmānaḥ): great-souled ones

• नियताः (niyatāḥ): disciplined, restrained

• ऊर्ध्वरेतसः (ūrdhvaretasaḥ): those with upward-directed semen/energy, celibate ascetics

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Gautama
• Plakṣa
• Dārbhāyaṇi
• Ketumān

FAQs

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

It highlights the kind of purified adhikāra (spiritual fitness) associated with approaching Śiva—disciplined, yoga-established sages whose restraint supports focused worship and inner linga-dhyāna (contemplation of the Śiva-principle).

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

By implying Śiva as Pati—the liberating Lord—toward whom yoga-souled sages direct their entire being, seeking release of the paśu from pāśa through disciplined inward ascent.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Brahmacarya with ūrdhvaretas (upward conservation and sublimation of vital energy), paired with niyama (restraint) and yoga-niṣṭhā—key dispositions aligned with Pāśupata-oriented Shaiva sādhanā.