Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Indra’s Account: Shilada’s Tapas and Shiva’s Manifestation as Nandi

Devanagari script

एष नन्दी यतो जातो यज्ञभूमौ हिताय मे

Transliteration

eṣa nandī yato jāto yajñabhūmau hitāya me

Translation

“Ito si Nandī, na isinilang dito sa lupang yajña, para sa aking kapakanan at upang ipagtanggol ang ritong ito.”

Word by Word

• एषः: this

• नन्दी: Nandī (Śiva’s gaṇa, sacred bull)

• यतः: from which/whereupon

• जातः: was born/manifested

• यज्ञ-भूमौ: on the sacrificial ground (yajña-site)

• हिताय: for the good/welfare

• मे: of me/mine

Speaker

Shiva (as recalled within Suta’s narration)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It links Śiva’s worship to the sanctity of the yajña-bhūmi, showing that Śiva establishes protective divine agency (Nandī) to preserve right worship and ensure the rite bears fruit.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as Pati—the sovereign Lord whose grace manifests as orderly protection of dharma; Nandī arises as an expression of Śiva’s will to safeguard sacred action and its purity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights yajña-protection and ritual integrity—an essential foundation for Śaiva pūjā-vidhi—implying that disciplined worship under Śiva’s guardianship supports the pashu’s movement toward liberation from pāśa.