Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya

Devanagari script

पुरा मात्रा तु कथितं तथ्यमेव न संशयः पूर्वजन्मनि चास्माभिर् अपूजित इति प्रभुः

Transliteration

purā mātrā tu kathitaṃ tathyameva na saṃśayaḥ pūrvajanmani cāsmābhir apūjita iti prabhuḥ

Translation

“ສິ່ງທີ່ແມ່ຂ້ອຍເຄີຍກ່າວໄວ້ແຕ່ດົນ ແມ່ນຄວາມຈິງແທ້ ບໍ່ມີຂໍ້ສົງໄສ. ໃນຊາດກ່ອນ ພວກເຮົາບໍ່ໄດ້ບູຊາພຣະອົງ (ປະຕິ) ເລີຍ; ດັ່ງນັ້ນຜົນນີ້ຈຶ່ງເກີດຂຶ້ນ” ອາຈານໄດ້ກ່າວ.

Word by Word

• purā: formerly/long ago

• mātrā: by (my) mother

• tu: indeed/but

• kathitam: told/declared

• tathyam eva: certainly true

• na saṃśayaḥ: no doubt

• pūrva-janmani: in a previous birth

• ca: and

• asmābhiḥ: by us

• apūjitaḥ: not worshipped/not honoured

• iti: thus

• prabhuḥ: the Lord/the master (speaker addressing Śiva as Prabhu or speaking as a prabhu).

Speaker

An unnamed character within Sūta’s narration (internal dialogue), reflecting on past-life neglect of Śiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva-pūjā (including Liṅga-arcana) as a decisive karmic axis: neglect (apūjā) in a prior life becomes a cause for present suffering, while worship restores the pashu’s relationship to Pati.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati/Prabhu—the sovereign Lord whose worship aligns the soul (pashu) with grace; turning away from Him strengthens bondage (pāśa) through karmic consequence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is the necessity of regular Śiva-pūjā (Liṅga worship) as a remedial discipline; it functions like a Pāśupata-oriented correction that weakens pāśa by devotion and right observance.