Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Adhyaya 4: अहोरात्र-युग-मन्वन्तर-कल्पमान तथा प्रलयान्ते सृष्ट्युपक्रमः

Devanagari script

विकारस्य शिवस्याज्ञावशेनैव तु संहृतिः संहृते तु विकारे च प्रधाने चात्मनि स्थिते

Transliteration

vikārasya śivasyājñāvaśenaiva tu saṃhṛtiḥ saṃhṛte tu vikāre ca pradhāne cātmani sthite

Translation

Ang pagbalik‑paglusaw ng nahayag na pagbabago (vikāra) ay nagaganap lamang sa utos ni Śiva. At kapag naibalik na ang vikāra, nananatili ang Pradhāna (unang Kalikasan), at ang Ātman—ang panloob na kamalayan—ay nananahan nang matatag sa sarili nito.

Word by Word

• vikārasya: of the modification/manifested effect

• śivasya: of Śiva

• ājñā-vaśena: under the control of (His) command

• eva: alone/indeed

• tu: and/but

• saṃhṛtiḥ: reabsorption/dissolution

• saṃhṛte: when (it is) withdrawn

• vikāre: in the modification/effect

• ca: and

• pradhāne: in Pradhāna (primordial Prakṛti)

• ca: and

• ātmani: in the Self/Ātman

• sthite: being established/abiding

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Linga Purana’s cosmology to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva as the supreme Pati whose will governs both manifestation and dissolution; Linga worship centers on this Lord who transcends and controls Prakṛti (Pradhāna) and all vikāras.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as sovereign command (ājñā) over cosmic processes—samhāra is not mechanical, but occurs under His lordship, while consciousness (Ātman) remains established beyond changing effects.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A key Pāśupata-Yogic insight is implied: practice withdrawal (pratyāhāra/saṃhāra-bhāvanā) by recognizing vikāras as dissolvable effects and resting awareness in the Ātman under Śiva’s grace and command.