Shloka 1
सोमवर्णनम्
Graha–Ratha–Aśva Varṇana, Dhruva-Nibaddha Gati, Maṇḍala-Pramāṇa, Graha-Arcana
इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे सोमवर्णनं नाम षट्पञ्चाशत्तमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच छरिओत्स् ओफ़् ओथेर् प्लनेत्स् अष्टभिश् च हयैर्युक्तः सोमपुत्रस्य वै रथः वारितेजोमयश्चाथ पिशङ्गैश्चैव शोभनैः
iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge somavarṇanaṃ nāma ṣaṭpañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca chariots of other planets aṣṭabhiś ca hayairyuktaḥ somaputrasya vai rathaḥ vāritejomayaścātha piśaṅgaiścaiva śobhanaiḥ
Demikianlah dalam Śrī Liṅga-Mahāpurāṇa, bahagian awal, bab kelima puluh enam yang bernama “Huraian Soma”, Sūta berkata: “Kereta putera Soma sesungguhnya dipasangkan dengan lapan ekor kuda; ia diperbuat daripada sinar air yang sejuk dan bercahaya, serta dihiasi oleh kuda-kuda berwarna kekuningan-coklat yang indah.”
Suta
FAQs
By describing Soma’s splendour and orderly motion (via the chariot imagery), the text frames the cosmos as functioning under Pati (Śiva) as the supreme governor; such cosmology supports Liṅga-worship as alignment of the paśu (soul) with Śiva’s ordained order (ṛta/dharma).
Śiva-tattva is implied as the transcendent Pati whose governance makes even planetary powers intelligible and regulated; Soma’s cool, water-like radiance points to a derived, limited tejas operating within Śiva’s higher sovereignty rather than an independent absolute.
No explicit pūjā-vidhi or Pāśupata-yoga technique is stated; the takeaway is contemplative—using cosmic order (graha-varṇana) as a support for dhyāna on Śiva as Pati, the controller of all tejas and movements.