Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

भुवनकोशस्वभाववर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीप-पर्वत-लोकविन्यासः तथा यक्ष-उमा-प्रकाशः

Devanagari script

आज्ञाबलात्तस्य धरा स्थितेह धराधरा वारिधराः समुद्राः ज्योतिर्गणः शक्रमुखाः सुराश् च वैमानिकाः स्थावरजङ्गमाश् च

Transliteration

ājñābalāttasya dharā sthiteha dharādharā vāridharāḥ samudrāḥ jyotirgaṇaḥ śakramukhāḥ surāś ca vaimānikāḥ sthāvarajaṅgamāś ca

Translation

Sa lakas ng Kaniyang kautusan lamang, nananatiling matatag ang daigdig; ang mga tagapasan ng bundok, ang mga tagapagdala ng ulap, at ang mga karagatan ay nananatili sa kani-kanilang kinalalagyan. Ang mga pangkat ng liwanag, ang mga diyos na pinangungunahan ni Indra, ang mga nilalang sa himpapawid, at ang lahat ng di-gumagalaw at gumagalaw—lahat ay nananatili, inaalalayan sa ilalim ng ordinansa ng Kataas-taasang Pati.

Word by Word

• आज्ञा-बलात्: by the power of the command

• तस्य: of Him (that Lord)

• धरा: the earth

• स्थितेह: stands/abides here

• धराधराः: mountain-bearers (mountains/supporters of the earth)

• वारिधराः: water-bearers (clouds)

• समुद्राः: oceans

• ज्योतिर्गणः: hosts of luminous beings/stellar or radiant groups

• शक्रमुखाः: headed by Śakra (Indra)

• सुराः: gods

• च: and

• वैमानिकाः: celestial aerial beings (inhabitants of vimānas/heavens)

• स्थावर-जङ्गमाः: immobile and mobile beings (all creatures)

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva (Pati) as the sustaining authority of all realms; Linga worship is thus reverence to the cosmic pillar of order (ājñā) by which earth, oceans, gods, and beings remain established.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as sovereign governance: not merely a creator-force, but the transcendent Lord whose command stabilizes all categories of existence—devas, cosmic elements, and all moving/non-moving beings—showing Pati’s supremacy over pasha-bound pashus.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied discipline is ājñā-anusaraṇa—aligning conduct and worship with Shiva’s ordinance; in a Pāśupata sense, steady devotion and restraint cultivate inner stability mirroring the cosmic stability upheld by the Lord.