Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 128

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

नीरस्तीर्थश् च भीमश् च सर्वकर्मा गुणोद्वहः पद्मगर्भो महागर्भश् चन्द्रवक्त्रो नभो ऽनघः

Transliteration

nīrastīrthaś ca bhīmaś ca sarvakarmā guṇodvahaḥ padmagarbho mahāgarbhaś candravaktro nabho 'naghaḥ

Translation

तोच नीरस्तीर्थ—ज्याची पवित्रता एका तीर्थापुरती मर्यादित नाही; तोच भीम, भय-भक्ती जागविणारा प्रभू. तोच सर्वकर्मा—सर्व कर्मांचा कर्ता व अंतर्यामी नियंता; गुणोद्वह—गुणांचा धारक व अतीत आधार. तोच पद्मगर्भ—प्रकट सृष्टी-व्यवस्थेचा स्रोत; महागर्भ—सर्व लोकांचा विराट गर्भ; चंद्रवक्त्र—चंद्रासारखा शीतल मुख; आणि नभः—सर्वव्यापी आकाश; अनघ—कर्ममलरहित परम पति.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; Sahasranama portion)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Nīrastīrtha—the sanctity behind all sacred places—supporting the Linga as a universal focus of purification, not restricted to geography, while affirming Him as the stainless Pati (Anagha).

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

Shiva is shown as both immanent and transcendent: He bears the guṇas and governs all karma (Sarvakarmā, Guṇodvaha) yet remains untouched by impurity (Anagha), indicating the Siddhāntic Pati who liberates the pashu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Sahasranāma-japa with dhyāna on Shiva as all-pervading space (Nabhaḥ) and sinless consciousness (Anagha) is implied—used in Linga-pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented contemplation to loosen pāśa (bondage).