Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

उमास्वयंवरः / भवोद्वाहः, गणसमागमः, अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम्, तथा विनायक-उत्पत्तिसूचना

Devanagari script

नीलो नवत्या देवेशः पूर्णभद्रस्तथैव च कोटीनां चैव सप्तत्या चतुर्वक्त्रो महाबलः

Transliteration

nīlo navatyā deveśaḥ pūrṇabhadrastathaiva ca koṭīnāṃ caiva saptatyā caturvaktro mahābalaḥ

Translation

Siya ang Nīla, ang Bughaw na Mayningning; ang Deveśa, Panginoon ng mga deva. Siya rin ang Pūrṇabhadra, ganap na mapalad at mapagkalinga. Siya’y binibilang sa mga sampung-krore at gayundin sa pitumpu, bilang di-mabilang na pagpapakita at sukat. Siya’y Apat-ang-mukha at may dakilang kapangyarihan.

Word by Word

• नीलः: the Blue-hued One (Nīlakaṇṭha/Śiva)

• नवत्या: by ninety / in a group of ninety (a counting-marker in the litany)

• देवेशः: Lord of the gods

• पूर्णभद्रः: perfectly auspicious, wholly protective

• तथा एव च: and likewise indeed

• कोटीनाम्: of crores (ten-millions), innumerable

• च एव: and also

• सप्तत्या: by seventy / in a group of seventy (a counting-marker)

• चतुर्वक्त्रः: four-faced

• महाबलः: of great strength, supremely powerful

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva-nama litany within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a Shiva-nama (sacred epithet) segment: reciting and contemplating these names supports linga-archana and nama-japa, aligning the worshipper (pashu) toward the Pati, Shiva, who is praised as Devesha and Mahabala.

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

It presents Shiva as the sovereign Pati—Lord of the devas, immeasurable in manifestations (koṭīnām), and supremely potent (mahābala). The epithet “Nīla” recalls his compassionate assumption of poison, expressing transcendence combined with protective grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nama-smaraṇa (repetition and contemplation of Shiva’s epithets) is implied—used in Pashupata-oriented devotion to dissolve pasha (bondage) through steady remembrance of the all-powerful Pati during linga-puja.