Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः

Devanagari script

तपांसि तेषां सर्वेषां प्रत्याहन्यन्त शङ्करे यथादित्यप्रकाशेन तारका नभसि स्थिताः

Transliteration

tapāṃsi teṣāṃ sarveṣāṃ pratyāhanyanta śaṅkare yathādityaprakāśena tārakā nabhasi sthitāḥ

Translation

Sa harap ni Śaṅkara, napapawi ang lahat ng kanilang mga pag-aayuno at pagkamahigpit—gaya ng mga bituin sa langit na natatabunan ng ningning ng araw. Kaya ang Pati (Panginoon) lamang ang nananatiling liwanag na walang kapantay; sa Kanya, ang lahat ng limitadong kapangyarihan ng mga paśu ay napapatahimik.

Word by Word

• तपांसि: austerities, tapas

• तेषाम्: of them

• सर्वेषाम्: of all

• प्रत्याहन्यन्त: were struck down/overpowered/eclipsed

• शङ्करे: in the presence of Śaṅkara (Shiva)

• यथा: just as

• आदित्य-प्रकाशेन: by the sun’s radiance

• तारकाः: stars

• नभसि: in the sky

• स्थिताः: abiding/remaining

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)
• Surya (Aditya)

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva as the unsurpassed prakāśa (luminous reality): all individual tapas becomes secondary before His presence, implying that Linga-puja is fulfilled by aligning one’s austerity with devotion and surrender to Pati.

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

Shiva is depicted as self-effulgent like the sun—His consciousness eclipses all limited spiritual powers, showing Him as Pati, the supreme light that reveals and transcends the efforts of paśus (bound souls).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas is acknowledged but shown as incomplete without Shiva’s anugraha; the takeaway aligns with Pāśupata orientation—discipline and austerity must culminate in devotion to Shiva as the highest refuge.