Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

भुवनकोशविन्यासनिर्णयः (ज्योतिर्गति-वृष्टिचक्र-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

भवात्मकं जगत्सर्वम् इति किं चेह चाद्भुतम् नारायणत्वं देवस्य हरेश्चाद्भिः कृतं विभोः जगतामालयो विष्णुस् त्व् आपस्तस्यालयानि तु

Transliteration

bhavātmakaṃ jagatsarvam iti kiṃ ceha cādbhutam nārāyaṇatvaṃ devasya hareścādbhiḥ kṛtaṃ vibhoḥ jagatāmālayo viṣṇus tv āpastasyālayāni tu

Translation

Se todo o universo é de natureza bhava (devir), que maravilha há nisso? O poderoso Senhor Hari é chamado Nārāyaṇa porque as águas (nāra) são ditas ser a sua morada. De fato, Viṣṇu é a morada dos mundos, enquanto as águas são as suas moradas.

Word by Word

• भवात्मकम्: of the nature of bhava (becoming/existence)

• जगत्-सर्वम्: the entire universe

• इति: thus

• किम्: what

• च: and

• इह: here

• अद्भुतम्: wonder/marvel

• नारायणत्वम्: the state/name ‘Nārāyaṇa’

• देवस्य: of the deity

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)

• च: and

• अद्भिः/आपः: by the waters / the waters

• कृतम्: made/established (as an epithet)

• विभोः: of the all-pervading mighty one

• जगताम्: of the worlds

• आलयः: abode/dwelling-place

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu

• तु: indeed/but

• आपः: waters

• तस्य: of him

• आलयानि: abodes/dwelling-places

• तु: indeed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages; internal doctrinal exposition)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narayana
• Waters (Apah)

FAQs

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

It frames the cosmos as bhava (the realm of change), encouraging the devotee to seek the transcendent Pati (Śiva) beyond mutable elements; Linga-worship is presented as a tattva-oriented ascent from the elemental abodes to the supreme reality.

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

By emphasizing bhava as the character of the world, it implicitly contrasts the changing cosmos (pāśa-field) with the unchanging Lord; in Śaiva Siddhānta terms, Śiva as Pati is not confined to any single element or abode, even while pervading all as their inner ruler.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative tattva-vicāra (discernment) practice is implied: reflect on elemental supports (like waters as ‘abodes’) as impermanent bhava, and redirect attention to the supreme Lord—an inner orientation consistent with Pāśupata-style detachment from pāśa.