Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

ब्रह्मणो वरप्रदानम् — शिवस्य परत्वप्रतिपादनम् तथा वराहेण भूमेः पुनःस्थापनम्

Devanagari script

सनातनं सतां श्रेष्ठं नैष्कर्म्येण गताः परम् मरीचिभृग्वङ्गिरसं पुलस्त्यं पुलहं क्रतुम्

Transliteration

sanātanaṃ satāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ naiṣkarmyeṇa gatāḥ param marīcibhṛgvaṅgirasaṃ pulastyaṃ pulahaṃ kratum

Translation

Narating nila ang Kataas-taasan sa pamamagitan ng naiṣkarmya—pagkabatid na walang pagkilos at walang pagnanasa—sa pagninilay sa Walang-Hanggang Isa (Sanātana), ang pinakadakila sa mga banal. Sila ay sina Marīci, Bhṛgu, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, at Kratu.

Word by Word

• सनातनम्: the Eternal (Pati, the timeless Lord)

• सताम्: of the virtuous/saints

• श्रेष्ठम्: the सर्वोत्तम, the highest/excellent

• नैष्कर्म्येण: by naiṣkarmya (freedom from karmic doership

• गताः: having gone/attained

• परम्: the Supreme (Para-tattva, liberation)

• मरीचि: Marīci (mind-born sage)

• भृगु: Bhṛgu (sage)

• अङ्गिरसम्: Aṅgiras (sage)

• पुलस्त्यम्: Pulastya (sage)

• पुलहम्: Pulaha (sage)

• क्रतुम्: Kratu (sage)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Marici
• Bhrigu
• Angiras
• Pulastya
• Pulaha
• Kratu

FAQs

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

It frames liberation as arising from realization of the Sanātana (the Supreme Pati), which undergirds Linga-worship as a means to transcend pasha (bondage) through devotion and inner renunciation.

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

By calling the Supreme “Sanātana” and “best of the holy,” it points to Shiva-tattva as the timeless Para-principle—Pati—known through purity and the cessation of karmic doership (naiṣkarmya).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Naiṣkarmya is highlighted—an inner Pāśupata-oriented discipline of non-doership and desirelessness, where actions cease to bind the pashu and knowledge ripens toward moksha.