Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

जम्बूद्वीपस्य नववर्षविभागः रुद्रस्य अष्टक्षेत्रसन्निधिः नाभि-ऋषभ-भरतकथा

Devanagari script

यथाक्रमं स धर्मात्मा ततस्तु तपसि स्थितः तपसा भावितश्चैव स्वाध्यायनिरतस्त्वभूत्

Transliteration

yathākramaṃ sa dharmātmā tatastu tapasi sthitaḥ tapasā bhāvitaścaiva svādhyāyaniratastvabhūt

Translation

ಕ್ರಮಾನುಸಾರ ಆ ಧರ್ಮಾತ್ಮನು ನಂತರ ತಪಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿರನಾದನು. ತಪಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಪರಿಷ್ಕೃತನಾಗಿ ಸ್ವಾಧ್ಯಾಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರತನಾದನು; ಇದರಿಂದ ಪಶುಜೀವ ಶುದ್ಧಿಯಾಗಿ ಪತಿ—ಶಿವನ ಕಡೆ ತಿರುಗುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• यथाक्रमम्: in proper sequence

• सः: he

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled, devoted to dharma

• ततः तु: then indeed

• तपसि: in austerity (tapas)

• स्थितः: established, steadfast

• तपसा: by austerity

• भावितः: cultivated, refined, made spiritually mature

• च एव: and also

• स्वाध्याय-निरतः: devoted to svādhyāya (scriptural recitation/self-study)

• तु: indeed

• अभूत्: became

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-oriented devotion as grounded in inner purification: tapas (austerity) and svādhyāya (sacred study) prepare the worshipper to approach Śiva as Pati with a disciplined mind.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as the supreme goal (Pati) toward whom the dharmātmā turns through tapas and svādhyāya—practices that remove pāśa (bondage) obscuring the soul’s recognition of Śiva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-aligned discipline: sustained tapas and svādhyāya as daily yogic observance, cultivating steadiness, purity, and scriptural contemplation to weaken bondage.