Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Adhyaya 34: भस्ममहात्म्यं—अग्नीषोमात्मक-शिवतत्त्वं तथा पाशुपतव्रतप्रशंसा

Devanagari script

ध्यायन्ति ये महादेवं लीलासद्भावभाविताः उत्तरेणार्यपन्थानं ते ऽमृतत्वमवाप्नुयुः

Transliteration

dhyāyanti ye mahādevaṃ līlāsadbhāvabhāvitāḥ uttareṇāryapanthānaṃ te 'mṛtatvamavāpnuyuḥ

Translation

Yaong nagmumuni kay Mahādeva, na ang kalooban ay binababad sa tunay na diwa ng Kaniyang banal na līlā, at lumalakad sa mas mataas at marangal na landas (ārya-panthā), sila’y makaaabot sa amṛtatva—ang kalagayang di-namamatay—sa biyaya ni Pati, ang Panginoon ng mga nilalang.

Word by Word

• ध्यायन्ति (dhyāyanti): meditate upon

• ये (ye): those who

• महादेवं (mahādevaṃ): Mahādeva (Śiva, the Great God)

• लीलासद्भावभाविताः (līlā-sad-bhāva-bhāvitāḥ): imbued/formed by the true disposition (sadbhāva) of (Śiva’s) divine play (līlā)

• उत्तरेण (uttareṇa): by the higher/superior way

• आर्यपन्थानं (ārya-panthānaṃ): the noble path, the disciplined righteous way

• ते (te): they

• अमृतत्वम् (amṛtatvam): deathlessness, immortality, mokṣa

• अवाप्नुयुः (avāpnuyuḥ): may attain/obtain.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva)

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Linga-oriented devotion is not only external ritual but inner dhyāna on Mahādeva with right bhāva; such contemplation on Pati leads the pashu (soul) beyond pāśa (bondage) to amṛtatva.

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

Śiva is presented as Mahādeva whose līlā is spiritually meaningful; when the mind is aligned with that sadbhāva (true intent), the seeker is guided on the higher ārya path culminating in deathless liberation by Śiva’s lordship and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Dhyāna (meditative absorption) supported by purified bhāva and adherence to the higher ārya-panthā—consistent with Pāśupata orientation where inner transformation and Śiva-centered contemplation mature into mokṣa.