Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

सूर्यरथ-रचना, ध्रुव-प्रेरणा, मास-गणाः च

Jyotish-chakra: Surya’s Motion and Monthly Retinues

Devanagari script

चित्रसेनो महातेजाश् चोर्णायुश्चैव सुव्रताः धृतराष्ट्रः सूर्यवर्चा देवी साक्षात् कृतस्थला

Transliteration

citraseno mahātejāś corṇāyuścaiva suvratāḥ dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ sūryavarcā devī sākṣāt kṛtasthalā

Translation

Naroon si Citrāsena na may dakilang ningning; at si Corṇāyu na matatag sa mga banal na panata; si Dhṛtarāṣṭra at si Sūryavarcā; at ang Diyosa Kṛtasthalā na hayag na nagpakita—silang lahat ay binanggit sa hanay ng mga banal na presensiyang naglilingkod kay Pati, ang tagapag-alis ng gapos ng paśu.

Word by Word

• चित्रसेनः (Citrāsena): Citrāsena (a named divine being)

• महातेजाः (mahā-tejāḥ): of great radiance/power

• च (ca): and

• उर्णायुḥ/चोर्णायुḥ (ūrṇāyuḥ/corṇāyuḥ): Corṇāyu/Ūrṇāyu (proper name)

• एव (eva): indeed

• सुव्रताः (su-vratāḥ): those of excellent vows/observances

• धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ): Dhṛtarāṣṭra (proper name)

• सूर्यवर्चा (sūrya-varcā): Sun-radiant, Sūryavarcā (proper name)

• देवी (devī): the Goddess

• साक्षात् (sākṣāt): directly, manifestly/in person

• कृतस्थला (kṛtasthalā): Kṛtasthalā (proper name).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya, contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Citrāsena
• Corṇāyu
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Sūryavarcā
• Kṛtasthalā (Devī)

FAQs

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

By listing radiant beings and a manifest Devī in Shiva’s assembly, the verse frames Linga worship as communion with Pati (Shiva) together with his ordered śakti-filled retinue, emphasizing protection, auspiciousness, and dharmic alignment around the Linga.

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

Indirectly: the very presence of disciplined vow-keepers and divine powers around him points to Shiva-tattva as sovereign Pati—one who commands cosmic order and whose proximity dissolves pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The stress on suvrata (excellent vows) supports Pāśupata discipline—purity, restraint, and observance—used alongside Linga-pūjā as a means to weaken pāśa and orient the paśu toward Pati.