Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

ब्रह्मकृत-ईशानस्तवः तथा विश्वरूपदेवी-प्रकृतिरहस्योपदेशः

Devanagari script

प्राह देववृषं ब्रह्मा ब्रह्माणं चात्मसंभवम् रहस्यं सर्वमन्त्राणां पावनं पुष्टिवर्धनम्

Transliteration

prāha devavṛṣaṃ brahmā brahmāṇaṃ cātmasaṃbhavam rahasyaṃ sarvamantrāṇāṃ pāvanaṃ puṣṭivardhanam

Translation

Ipinahayag ni Brahmā ang aral na ito kay Devavṛṣa, at gayundin sa sariling-silang na Brahmā: ito ang lihim na diwa ng lahat ng mantra—nakapagdalisay at nagpapalago ng puṣṭi, ang pagpapala ng pagyabong sa espiritu at sa daigdig.

Word by Word

• प्राह: said/spoke

• देववृषम्: to Devavṛṣa (a divine seer/recipient)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā

• ब्रह्माणम्: to Brahmā (as addressed/another Brahmā)

• च: and

• आत्मसंभवम्: self-born, self-originated

• रहस्यम्: secret, esoteric essence

• सर्वमन्त्राणाम्: of all mantras

• पावनम्: purifying, sanctifying

• पुष्टिवर्धनम्: increasing prosperity, strength, nourishment (puṣṭi)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the internal account of Brahmā’s transmission)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devavṛṣa

FAQs

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

It frames the Shiva-oriented mantra-teaching as a guarded “rahasya” whose japa and remembrance purify the worshipper and generate puṣṭi—supporting both inner sādhana and the stability needed for Linga-pūjā.

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

By calling the teaching the essence of all mantras and inherently purifying, it implies Shiva-tattva as Pati—the supreme sanctifier whose mantra is not merely sound but a liberating principle that loosens pāśa (bondage) from the paśu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-rahasya practice—especially japa and disciplined recitation within a Shaiva (Pāśupata-aligned) framework—emphasizing purification (pāvana) and the cultivation of steadiness and vitality (puṣṭi).