Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

विनायकोत्पत्तिः / ताण्डव-प्रसङ्गः (दारुक-वधः, काली-उत्पत्तिः, क्षेत्रपालोत्पत्तिः)

Devanagari script

तां च ज्ञात्वा तथाभूतां तृतीयेनेक्षणेन वै ससर्ज कालीं कामारिः कालकण्ठीं कपर्दिनीम्

Transliteration

tāṃ ca jñātvā tathābhūtāṃ tṛtīyenekṣaṇena vai sasarja kālīṃ kāmāriḥ kālakaṇṭhīṃ kapardinīm

Translation

Nang malaman Niya ang kalagayan niya, si Śiva—kaaway ni Kāma—sa kapangyarihan ng Kanyang ikatlong mata ay lumikha kay Kālī: maitim ang anyo, lumalamon ng panahon, at may buhol-buhol na buhok, upang ang Panginoon (Pati) ay mapigil ang mga puwersang nagbibigkis sa mga daigdig.

Word by Word

• ताम् (tām): her/that one

• च (ca): and

• ज्ञात्वा (jñātvā): having known/understood

• तथाभूताम् (tathā-bhūtām): being in such a condition/state

• तृतीयेनेक्षणेन (tṛtīyena īkṣaṇena): by the third eye/by the third sight

• वै (vai): indeed

• ससर्ज (sasarja): created/manifested/emitted

• कालीम् (kālīm): Kālī (the dark, transformative Śakti)

• कामारिः (kāmāriḥ): the enemy of Kāma (Śiva)

• कालकण्ठीम् (kāla-kaṇṭhīm): she whose throat is of Time/deathly-dark (epithet indicating time-consuming, terrible aspect)

• कपर्दिनीम् (kapardinīm): the one with braided/matted hair (jaṭā-bearing).

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account, with implied Śaiva narrative voice)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kali

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati whose mere īkṣaṇa (divine gaze) manifests Śakti to restore dharma—reinforcing that Linga worship is devotion to the transcendent Lord whose power (Śakti) actively removes obstacles and bondage.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as sovereign consciousness: through the third eye (jñāna-śakti/tejas), He manifests Kālī as a purposeful power to dissolve tamas and time-bound limitations, liberating pashus from pāśa under His lordship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to the inner ‘third eye’ principle central to Śaiva yogic discipline—awakening jñāna-agni (fire of insight) that burns impurities—an inner correlate to Pāśupata practice of purification and bondage-cutting.