Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 192

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

Devanagari script

क्रियावन्तः प्रजावन्तो महर्षिभिर् अलंकृताः ऋभु, सनत्कुमार ऋभुः सनत्कुमारश् च द्वावेतावूर्ध्वरेतसौ

Transliteration

kriyāvantaḥ prajāvanto maharṣibhir alaṃkṛtāḥ Ṛbhu, Sanatkumāra ṛbhuḥ sanatkumāraś ca dvāvetāvūrdhvaretasau

Translation

Taglay ang banal na disiplina at lakas-espirituwal, at pinalamutian ng presensya ng mga dakilang rishi, ang mga kagalang-galang na ito ay sina Ṛbhu at Sanatkumāra. Ang dalawang ito’y kilala bilang ūrdhvaretas—yaong sa pagpipigil ng yoga ay iniangat paitaas ang kapangyarihang paglikha, karapat-dapat na sisidlan para kay Pati (Panginoon) at sa kaalamang Shaiva.

Word by Word

• क्रियावन्तः: endowed with (right) actions/discipline

• प्रजावन्तः: possessing progeny/creative potency (spiritual fecundity)

• महर्षिभिः: by great seers

• अलंकृताः: adorned, graced

• ऋभुः: Ṛbhu (a revered sage)

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra (the eternal youth-sage)

• च: and

• द्वौ: two

• एतौ: these

• ऊर्ध्वरेतसौ: both are ūrdhvaretas—those whose semen/creative energy is sublimated upward (brahmacarya-yogic mastery).

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Ṛbhu
• Sanatkumāra

FAQs

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

It highlights the inner qualification for Linga-upāsanā: disciplined kriyā and yogic restraint (ūrdhvaretas), indicating that purity and sublimated vitality make the worshipper a fit pashu moving toward the grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

By praising sages who sublimate desire into upward-moving spiritual power, the verse implies Shiva-tattva as the supreme purifier and liberator—Pati who elevates the bound pashu beyond pasha through knowledge and yogic transformation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The yogic discipline of brahmacarya expressed as ūrdhvaretas—transmutation of generative energy into spiritual force—aligned with Pāśupata-oriented restraint and contemplative practice supporting Shaiva worship.