Shloka 1

सोमवर्णनम्

Graha–Ratha–Aśva Varṇana, Dhruva-Nibaddha Gati, Maṇḍala-Pramāṇa, Graha-Arcana

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे सोमवर्णनं नाम षट्पञ्चाशत्तमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच छरिओत्स् ओफ़् ओथेर् प्लनेत्स् अष्टभिश् च हयैर्युक्तः सोमपुत्रस्य वै रथः वारितेजोमयश्चाथ पिशङ्गैश्चैव शोभनैः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge somavarṇanaṃ nāma ṣaṭpañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca chariots of other planets aṣṭabhiś ca hayairyuktaḥ somaputrasya vai rathaḥ vāritejomayaścātha piśaṅgaiścaiva śobhanaiḥ

Translation

ఇట్లు శ్రీలింగమహాపురాణ పూర్వభాగములో ‘సోమవర్ణనం’ అను యాభై ఆరవ అధ్యాయము. సూతుడు పలికెను—సోమపుత్రుని రథము ఎనిమిది అశ్వములతో యుక్తమైయున్నది; అది జలతేజోమయమైన శీతల దీప్తిస్వరూపమై, సుందర పిశంగ (తామ్రవర్ణ) అశ్వములతో శోభిల్లుచున్నది।

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the venerable Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrvabhāga)

• soma-varṇanam: description of Soma (the Moon)

• nāma: named/called

• ṣaṭpañcāśattamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the fifty-seventh chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• aṣṭabhiḥ: with eight

• ca: and

• hayaiḥ: horses

• yuktaḥ: yoked/connected

• somaputrasya: of Soma’s son

• vai: indeed

• rathaḥ: chariot

• vāri: water

• tejaḥ: radiance/splendour

• mayaḥ: made of/consisting of

• ca atha: and then/also

• piśaṅgaiḥ: tawny/reddish-brown

• ca eva: and indeed

• śobhanaiḥ: beautiful/splendid.

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Soma (Chandra)

FAQs

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

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).

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

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.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

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.