Shloka 1

Indra’s Account: Shilada’s Tapas and Shiva’s Manifestation as Nandi

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे इन्द्रवाक्यं नामैकचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच गते पुण्ये च वरदे सहस्राक्षे शिलाशनः आराधयन्महादेवं तपसातोषयद्भवम्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge indravākyaṃ nāmaikacatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca gate puṇye ca varade sahasrākṣe śilāśanaḥ ārādhayanmahādevaṃ tapasātoṣayadbhavam

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ശ്രീലിംഗമഹാപുരാണത്തിന്റെ പൂർവഭാഗത്തിലെ “ഇന്ദ്രവാക്യം” എന്ന ഏകചത്വാരിംശ അധ്യായത്തിൽ സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു— പുണ്യവാനും വരദനും ആയ സഹസ്രാക്ഷൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) പോയശേഷം ശിലാശനൻ മഹാദേവനെ നിരന്തരം ആരാധിച്ചു; തപസ്സാൽ ഭവൻ—പാശവിമോചക പതി ശിവൻ—നെ പ്രസാദിപ്പിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• indra-vākyaṃ nāma: named “Indra’s speech/statement”

• eka-catvāriṃśaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the forty-first chapter (traditional colophon style)

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• gate: having gone/departed

• puṇye: the meritorious one

• ca: and

• varade: the boon-giver

• sahasrākṣe: the thousand-eyed one (Indra)

• śilāśanaḥ: Śilāśana (proper name)

• ārādhayan: worshipping/propitiating

• mahādevaṃ: Mahādeva

• tapasā: by austerity

• toṣayat: pleased/satisfied

• bhavam: Bhava (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Indra (Sahasraksha)
• Shiva (Mahadeva/Bhava)
• Shilashana

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva-ārādhana as effective through tapas (austerity) and devotion, showing that pleasing Bhava/Mahādeva is the core aim of Liṅga-centered worship that leads the bound soul (pashu) toward grace.

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

Śiva is named Mahādeva and Bhava—signifying the supreme Lord (Pati) who is pleased by disciplined tapas and who bestows transformative grace that can dissolve bondage (pāśa).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas-driven ārādhana (austerity-based propitiation), aligning with Pāśupata-style discipline where inner heat, restraint, and focused worship are offered to Śiva to obtain his prasāda.