Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

अविद्या-पञ्चक, नवसर्ग-क्रमः, प्रजापति-प्रसवः

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 5

Devanagari script

उत्तानपादो ह्यवरो धीमाञ्ज्येष्ठः प्रियव्रतः ज्येष्ठा वरिष्ठा त्वाकूतिः प्रसूतिश्चानुजा स्मृता

Transliteration

uttānapādo hyavaro dhīmāñjyeṣṭhaḥ priyavrataḥ jyeṣṭhā variṣṭhā tvākūtiḥ prasūtiścānujā smṛtā

Translation

Sa kanila, si Uttānapāda ang sinasabing nakababata, samantalang si Priyavrata na marunong ay ang nakatatanda. Sa mga anak na babae, si Ākūti ang inaalala bilang panganay at pinakadakila, at si Prasūti naman ang nakababatang kapatid.

Word by Word

• uttānapādaḥ: Uttānapāda (a son of Svāyambhuva Manu)

• hi: indeed

• avaraḥ: younger

• dhīmān: wise, discerning

• jyeṣṭhaḥ: elder

• priyavrataḥ: Priyavrata (name of the elder son)

• jyeṣṭhā: eldest (feminine)

• variṣṭhā: most excellent, foremost

• ākūtiḥ: Ākūti (daughter of Manu)

• prasūtiḥ: Prasūti (daughter of Manu)

• ca: and

• anujā: younger sister

• smṛtā: is remembered/known as

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Uttānapāda
• Priyavrata
• Ākūti
• Prasūti
• Svāyambhuva Manu

FAQs

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

It situates Linga Purana’s Shaiva teaching within the Srishti (creation) framework by naming the principal progenitors; such genealogical grounding establishes the field of Dharma in which Shiva (Pati) is worshiped and recognized as the inner ruler of all lineages.

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

Indirectly: by ordering progeny and precedence, it reflects Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati who remains beyond birth-order while governing manifestation; all created hierarchies belong to the realm of Pashu under Pasha, ultimately oriented toward Shiva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi or Pashupata Yoga limb is taught in this verse; it functions as a Srishti-context marker that precedes later sections where Linga स्थापना (installation) and Shiva-upasana are detailed.