Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

देवादिसृष्टिकथनम् (वसिष्ठशोकः, पराशरजन्म, एकलिङ्गपूजा, रुद्रदर्शनम्)

Devanagari script

श्रीदेव उवाच शक्ते पश्य सुतं बालम् आनन्दास्राविलेक्षणम् अदृश्यन्तीं च विप्रेन्द्र वसिष्ठं पितरं तव

Transliteration

śrīdeva uvāca śakte paśya sutaṃ bālam ānandāsrāvilekṣaṇam adṛśyantīṃ ca viprendra vasiṣṭhaṃ pitaraṃ tava

Translation

ਸ੍ਰੀਦੇਵ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਹੇ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ, ਆਪਣੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਉਸ ਬਾਲਕ ਨੂੰ ਵੇਖ; ਉਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਅੱਖਾਂ ਆਨੰਦ ਦੇ ਹੰਝੂਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਭਰੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਅਤੇ ਹੇ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ-ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ, ਵੇਖ—ਤੇਰਾ ਪਿਤਾ ਵਸਿਸ਼ਠ ਹੁਣ ਦਿਸਦਾ ਨਹੀਂ।

Word by Word

• śrīdevaḥ: Śrīdeva (the glorious Lord)

• uvāca: said

• śakte: O Śakti

• paśya: behold/see

• sutam: son

• bālam: the child

• ānanda-āsrāvila-īkṣaṇam: whose eyes are moist with tears of bliss

• adṛśyantīm: (who/which is) not being seen, invisible/vanished

• ca: and

• vipra-indra: O best of brāhmaṇas

• vasiṣṭham: Vasiṣṭha

• pitaram: father

• tava: your

Speaker

Śrīdeva (the Lord, i.e., Śiva)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Vasistha

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace) and tirodhāna (concealment): spiritual vision arises by Śakti’s power, while ordinary perception can be withdrawn—teaching that true Linga-darśana depends on divine revelation, not mere sight.

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

Śiva appears as the conscious Lord (Pati) who directs perception itself—granting bliss-signs in the devotee and veiling or revealing beings (like Vasiṣṭha) according to his līlā and the soul’s readiness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A yogic sign is emphasized: ānanda-aśru (tears of bliss) indicating inner awakening through Śiva-Śakti’s grace—aligned with Pāśupata-style transformation where the pashu’s bondage loosens through anugraha rather than external action alone.