Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 146

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

पश्वादयस्ते विख्याता उत्पथग्राहिणो द्विजाः तस्याभिध्यायतो ऽन्यं वै सात्त्विकः समवर्तत

Transliteration

paśvādayaste vikhyātā utpathagrāhiṇo dvijāḥ tasyābhidhyāyato 'nyaṃ vai sāttvikaḥ samavartata

Translation

O mga dwija! Ang mga nilalang na nagsisimula sa uri ng paśu ay nakilala bilang mga tagasunod ng landas na ligaw. Nang Siya’y magnilay, lumitaw ang isa pang paglikha—sāttvika ang likas—na nakaayon sa kadalisayan at wastong kaayusan, upang akayin ang paśu tungo kay Pati, ang Panginoon.

Word by Word

• पश्वादयः (paśvādayaḥ): beings beginning with the pashu-type/creatures

• ते (te): those

• विख्याता (vikhyātā): became renowned/identified

• उत्पथग्राहिणः (utpatha-grāhiṇaḥ): those who take a wrong path, deviating from dharma

• द्विजाः (dvijāḥ): O twice-born (brahmins)

• तस्य (tasya): of him/of that one

• अभिध्यायतः (abhidhyāyataḥ): while meditating/contemplating

• अन्यं (anyaṃ): another (creation/order)

• वै (vai): indeed

• सात्त्विकः (sāttvikaḥ): sāttvika, pure, luminous

• समवर्तत (samavartata): arose/came into being

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmological account within the Linga Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames creation in moral-spiritual terms: deviations (utpatha) bind the paśu, while sāttvika order supports right worship and inner purity—key prerequisites for fruitful Linga-pūjā and grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as the governing Pati-principle: through higher contemplation, a purifying sāttvika manifestation arises that restores dharmic orientation for souls caught in bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes contemplative meditation (abhidhyāna) as the causal yogic force behind sāttvika transformation—an inner discipline aligned with Pāśupata orientation from bondage toward liberation.