Shloka 1

देवादिसृष्टिकथनम् (वसिष्ठशोकः, पराशरजन्म, एकलिङ्गपूजा, रुद्रदर्शनम्)

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे देवादिसृष्टिकथनं नाम त्रिषष्टितमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः कथं हि रक्षसा शक्तिर् भक्षितः सो ऽनुजैः सह वासिष्ठो वदतां श्रेष्ठ सूत वक्तुमिहार्हसि

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge devādisṛṣṭikathanaṃ nāma triṣaṣṭitamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kathaṃ hi rakṣasā śaktir bhakṣitaḥ so 'nujaiḥ saha vāsiṣṭho vadatāṃ śreṣṭha sūta vaktumihārhasi

Translation

Sa gayon, sa Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, sa Pūrva-bhāga, nagsisimula ang ika-animnapu’t tatlong kabanata na tinatawag na “Salaysay ng paglikha na nagsisimula sa mga Deva.” Sinabi ng mga rishi: “Paano nga ba nilamon ng isang rākṣasa si Śakti, anak ni Vasiṣṭha—kasama ang kaniyang mga nakababatang kapatid? O Sūta, pinakamainam sa mga tagapagsalaysay, nararapat mong isalaysay ito rito.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the venerable Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• devādi-sṛṣṭi-kathanam: narration of creation beginning with the Devas

• nāma: named

• triṣaṣṭitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the sixty-third chapter

• ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ: the sages said

• katham: how

• hi: indeed

• rakṣasā: by a rākṣasa (demon)

• śaktiḥ: Śakti (Vasiṣṭha’s son)

• bhakṣitaḥ: was eaten/devoured

• saḥ: he

• anujaiḥ saha: together with (his) younger brothers

• vāsiṣṭhaḥ: the Vasiṣṭha-line (i.e., Vasiṣṭha’s son)

• vadatām śreṣṭha: best among speakers

• sūta: O Sūta

• vaktum: to tell

• iha: here

• arhasi: you are worthy/able.

Speaker

Sages (Ṛṣayaḥ) addressing Sūta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Sages (Ṛṣayaḥ)
• Vasiṣṭha
• Śakti
• Rākṣasa

FAQs

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

It sets the Purāṇic dialogue-frame (sages questioning Sūta), through which Shaiva cosmology and dharma—including the sacred meaning of the Liṅga as Pati (Śiva) guiding pashus (souls)—is transmitted.

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

Indirectly: by introducing a karmic-historical episode within a creation narrative, it implies the governance of cosmic order under Pati (Śiva), where events involving sages and beings unfold within Śiva’s overarching lordship and dharma.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific ritual is stated in this verse; it functions as a narrative prompt. The forthcoming account typically supports Shaiva teaching by illustrating dharma, karmic causality, and the need for Pati-bhakti that later culminates in Liṅga-pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented discipline.