Shloka 21

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

सुरश्रेष्ठस्तदा श्रेष्ठं पूजयामास शङ्करम् लिङ्गं स्थाप्य यथान्यायं हिमवच्छिखरे शुभे

Transliteration

suraśreṣṭhastadā śreṣṭhaṃ pūjayāmāsa śaṅkaram liṅgaṃ sthāpya yathānyāyaṃ himavacchikhare śubhe

Translation

ครั้งนั้นเทพผู้ประเสริฐได้บูชาพระศังกรผู้สูงสุดตามพิธีอันถูกต้อง ครั้นได้ประดิษฐานลึงค์โดยชอบธรรมบนยอดอันเป็นมงคลแห่งหิมวัต

Word by Word

• सुरश्रेष्ठः: the best of the gods (chief among the Devas)

• तदा: then

• श्रेष्ठम्: the Supreme/Most excellent (Lord)

• पूजयामास: worshipped (performed pūjā)

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)

• लिङ्गम्: the Liṅga (symbol and locus of Śiva)

• स्थाप्य: having installed/established

• यथा-न्यायम्: according to rule and proper procedure (vidhi)

• हिमवत्-शिखरे: on the peak of Himavat (the Himalaya)

• शुभे: auspicious, sacred.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Devas
• Linga
• Himavat

FAQs

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

It highlights that Liṅga-pūjā is grounded in correct installation and procedure (yathānyāya), showing that devotion to Pati (Śiva) is expressed through disciplined ritual order, not merely sentiment.

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

Śiva is called “śreṣṭha” and addressed as Śaṅkara, indicating Him as the Supreme Pati—auspicious, transcendent, and worthy of worship even by the Devas, with the Liṅga serving as His manifest focus for grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes Liṅga-sthāpana followed by pūjā according to vidhi (yathānyāya), a foundational Shaiva practice that supports purity, restraint, and steadiness—qualities aligned with Pāśupata discipline.