Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

सूर्यरश्मिस्वरूपकथनम्

Surya-Rashmi Svarupa Kathana

Devanagari script

शनैश्चरं पुनश् चापि रश्मिर् आप्यायते स्वराट् एवं सूर्यप्रभावेन नक्षत्रग्रहतारकाः

Transliteration

śanaiścaraṃ punaś cāpi raśmir āpyāyate svarāṭ evaṃ sūryaprabhāvena nakṣatragrahatārakāḥ

Translation

さらにまた、スヴァラート（Svarāṭ）—主権なる太陽—はその光線によって「シャナイシュチャラ（Śanaiścara／土星）」さえも養う。かくして太陽の威力により、星宿・惑星・諸星は保たれる。シヴァ派の理解において、この保持の力は究竟には「パティ（Pati）」—シヴァ—に属し、時とカルマを司る光明の統御者たちを支える宇宙秩序として顕現する。

Word by Word

• शनैश्चरम् (śanaiścaram): Saturn, the slow-moving graha

• पुनः (punaḥ): again, further

• च (ca): and

• अपि (api): even/also

• रश्मिः (raśmiḥ): ray, beam of light

• आप्यायते (āpyāyate): is nourished, is replenished

• स्वराट् (svarāṭ): the sovereign (Sun)

• एवम् (evam): thus

• सूर्यप्रभावेन (sūrya-prabhāvena): by the power/splendor of the Sun

• नक्षत्र (nakṣatra): lunar mansions/constellations

• ग्रह (graha): planets

• तारकाः (tārakāḥ): stars

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Shanaishchara

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic maintenance as a sacred hierarchy of energies: the Sun sustains the grahas, and in Linga-centered Shaiva vision that sustaining order is rooted in Pati (Śiva), whom the Linga signifies as the support of the universe.

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

Though Surya is named as the immediate nourisher, Shiva-tattva is implied as the ultimate adhāra (ground) of all prabhāva (power) that regulates time, light, and karmic fruition—functions experienced by the pashu within saṃsāra.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A direct practice is not stated; the takeaway is contemplative upāsanā: meditate on the Linga as Pati, the inner governor behind Surya and the grahas, aligning one’s karma (pāśa) toward liberation through Shaiva devotion and discipline.