Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

मदनदाहः — पार्वतीतपः, स्वयंवरलीला, देवस्तम्भनं, दिव्यचक्षुर्दानम्

Devanagari script

क्रीडार्थं च सतां मध्ये सर्वदेवपतिर्भवः स्वयंवरे महादेवी तव दिव्यसुशोभने

Transliteration

krīḍārthaṃ ca satāṃ madhye sarvadevapatirbhavaḥ svayaṃvare mahādevī tava divyasuśobhane

Translation

ଦିବ୍ୟ କ୍ରୀଡାର୍ଥେ, ସତ୍ପୁରୁଷମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ, ସର୍ବଦେବପତି ଭବ—ହେ ମହାଦେବୀ—ତୁମ ସ୍ୱୟଂବରେ ଦିବ୍ୟ ତେଜ ଓ ଅପୂର୍ବ ଶୋଭା ସହ ପ୍ରକଟ ହେଲେ।

Word by Word

• क्रीडार्थम्: for the purpose of play/divine sport (līlā)

• च: and

• सताम्: of the virtuous/noble

• मध्ये: in the midst

• सर्वदेवपतिः: the lord of all the gods

• भवः: Bhava (Śiva)

• स्वयंवरे: at the self-choice marriage ceremony

• महादेवी: O Great Goddess (Pārvatī/Śakti)

• तव: your

• दिव्यसुशोभने: in divine, splendid beauty / as one who is divinely radiant

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva (Bhava) as Sarvadevapati—Pati, the supreme Lord—whose līlā draws devotees (paśu) toward his grace; linga-worship is thereby understood as approaching the transcendent Pati through a manifest, beautiful presence.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as sovereign (lord of the devas) yet freely self-manifesting among the sat (noble devotees), revealing that the Supreme is both beyond and intimately present through compassionate, playful self-disclosure.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this verse; the takeaway is bhakti-centered contemplation of Śiva’s līlā and Śiva–Śakti unity, which supports inner orientation in Pāśupata-style devotion and remembrance.