Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

विष्णुरुवाच—एकाक्षर-प्रणव-लिङ्ग-व्याप्ति-शिवस्तोत्रम्

Devanagari script

मोक्षाय मोक्षरूपाय मोक्षकर्त्रे नमोनमः आत्मने ऋषये तुभ्यं स्वामिने विष्णवे नमः

Transliteration

mokṣāya mokṣarūpāya mokṣakartre namonamaḥ ātmane ṛṣaye tubhyaṃ svāmine viṣṇave namaḥ

Translation

Muli’t muli akong nagpupugay sa Panginoon na siyang Moksha, na ang likas na anyo ay Moksha, at siyang nagkakaloob ng Moksha. Sa Iyo—ang Sarili mismo, ang rishi na nakakakita sa loob, ang Kataas-taasang Guro at Panginoon (na nahahayag din bilang Viṣṇu)—ako’y yumuyuko.

Word by Word

• मोक्षाय: to the one who is mokṣa (liberation)

• मोक्षरूपाय: to the one whose form/nature is liberation

• मोक्षकर्त्रे: to the maker/bestower of liberation

• नमोनमः: repeated salutations

• आत्मने: to the Self, the inmost Ātman

• ऋषये: to the seer/sage (ṛṣi), inner revealer of mantra and truth

• तुभ्यं: to you

• स्वामिने: to the Lord/Master (Pati)

• विष्णवे: to Viṣṇu (the all-pervading aspect of the one Lord)

• नमः: salutation

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a hymn within the Purva-Bhaga context, affirming Pati as the giver of moksha and acknowledging Hari-Hara unity)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-bhakti as moksha-oriented: the worshipped Pati is not only a deity to be praised, but the very principle of liberation and the direct giver of release from bondage (pāśa).

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as mokṣa itself (mokṣa-rūpa) and as the efficient cause of liberation (mokṣa-kartṛ), the sovereign Pati who reveals truth as the inner ṛṣi (witness-consciousness) within the pashu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights stuti and inner recollection (smaraṇa) of the Lord as Ātman—supporting Pāśupata-style inwardness where devotion and discernment loosen pāśa and culminate in grace-bestowed moksha.