Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

आचार्य-धर्मलक्षण-श्रद्धाभक्तिप्राधान्यं तथा लिङ्गे ध्यान-पूजाविधानसंकेतः

Adhyaya 10

Devanagari script

अहिंसा सर्वतः शान्तिस् तप इत्यभिधीयते आत्मवत् सर्वभूतेषु यो हितायाहिताय च

Transliteration

ahiṃsā sarvataḥ śāntis tapa ityabhidhīyate ātmavat sarvabhūteṣu yo hitāyāhitāya ca

Translation

អហിംសា​ជា​សន្តិភាព​គ្រប់ទិសទាំងអស់ ហើយត្រូវបានប្រកាសថា​ជា​តបៈ​ពិត។ អ្នកណា​ឃើញ​សត្វលោក​ទាំងអស់​ដូច​ខ្លួនឯង ធ្វើ​ដើម្បី​សុខុមាលភាព​របស់​ពួកគេ និង​ជៀសវាង​អ្វី​ដែល​បង្ក​គ្រោះថ្នាក់ នោះ​ជា​តបៈ​នោះ។

Word by Word

• ahiṃsā: non-violence

• sarvataḥ: in every way/from all sides

• śāntiḥ: peace, appeasement, inner stillness

• tapaḥ: austerity, spiritual heat/discipline

• iti: thus

• abhidhīyate: is called/declared

• ātmavat: as (one’s) own self

• sarvabhūteṣu: in all beings

• yaḥ: who

• hitāya: for welfare/benefit

• ahitāya: for harm/injury

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating dharma-teachings to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

FAQs

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

It establishes that Shiva-puja is not merely external ritual: the devotee’s core offering is ahiṃsā—creating śānti for all beings—recognized here as the highest tapas supporting worthy Linga worship.

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

Shiva as Pati is approached through śānti and compassion: when the pashu (individual soul) sees all beings as the Self and avoids harm, it loosens pāśa (bondage) and aligns with Shiva-tattva—peaceful, all-pervading auspiciousness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ahiṃsā as tapas: a Pāśupata-oriented discipline where restraint from harm, universal friendliness, and self-identification with all beings become the yogic foundation that purifies the mind for mantra, dhyāna, and Linga-puja.