Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

सोमवर्णनम्

Graha–Ratha–Aśva Varṇana, Dhruva-Nibaddha Gati, Maṇḍala-Pramāṇa, Graha-Arcana

Devanagari script

यावन्त्यश्चैव ताराश् च तावन्तश्चैव रश्मयः सर्वे ध्रुवनिबद्धाश् च भ्रमन्तो भ्रामयन्ति तम्

Transliteration

yāvantyaścaiva tārāś ca tāvantaścaiva raśmayaḥ sarve dhruvanibaddhāś ca bhramanto bhrāmayanti tam

Translation

Kung gaano karami ang mga bituin, gayon din karami ang kanilang mga sinag. Lahat ng iyon ay nakagapos kay Dhruva; sa pag-ikot nila, pinagmumukha rin nilang umiikot si Dhruva—at sa gayon ay napangangalagaan ang kaayusan ng sansinukob.

Word by Word

• yāvantyaḥ: as many as

• ca eva: and indeed

• tārāḥ: stars

• tāvantāḥ: so many

• raśmayaḥ: rays/beams

• sarve: all

• dhruva-nibaddhāḥ: fastened/anchored to Dhruva (the Pole Star)

• ca: and

• bhramantaḥ: revolving/turning

• bhrāmayanti: make (another) turn/appear to turn

• tam: him (Dhruva).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva

FAQs

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

It frames the universe as held by an unseen axial order (Dhruva), echoing the Linga as the cosmic pillar (stambha) through which Shiva, the Pati, stabilizes creation—supporting the contemplative basis of Linga-puja.

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

Though Shiva is not named, the verse points to a governing stability behind motion: Shiva-tattva as the immovable ground that enables all movement, with the cosmos functioning through a binding principle (nibandhana) rather than chaos.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied practice is dhāraṇā on steadiness—cultivating dhruvatva (unshakable focus) in Pashupata-oriented yoga, mirroring the fixed axis amid the revolutions of sense and mind.