Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Adhyaya 75: Nishkala–Sakala Shiva, Twofold Linga, and the Supremacy of Dhyana-Yajna

Devanagari script

नास्ति विज्ञानिनां शौचं प्रायश्चित्तादि चोदना विशुद्धा विद्यया सर्वे ब्रह्मविद्याविदो जनाः

Transliteration

nāsti vijñānināṃ śaucaṃ prāyaścittādi codanā viśuddhā vidyayā sarve brahmavidyāvido janāḥ

Translation

Para sa mga nakatatag sa tunay na kaalamang espirituwal (vijñāna), wala nang utos hinggil sa ritwal na kalinisan o mga gawaing pampagbayad-sala. Ang lahat ng nakakabatid ng Brahma-vidyā ay nalilinis sa pamamagitan ng kaalaman mismo.

Word by Word

• नास्ति: there is not

• विज्ञानिनाम्: of the realized/true knowers

• शौचम्: ritual purity/cleansing observance

• प्रायश्चित्त-आदि: expiations and the like

• चोदना: scriptural injunction/prescriptive command

• विशुद्धाः: purified, made completely pure

• विद्यया: by (spiritual) knowledge

• सर्वे: all

• ब्रह्म-विद्या-विदः: knowers of Brahma-vidyā (liberating knowledge)

• जनाः: people, persons

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching tradition within the Linga Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prioritizes inner realization over external purification: devotion and knowledge of Shiva as Pati make the practitioner intrinsically pure, which is the heart of mature Linga-upāsanā.

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

By implying that liberating knowledge itself purifies, it aligns with Shiva-tattva as the supreme Pati whose grace and realization sever pāśa (bondage) and elevate the pashu (soul) beyond ritual dependence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A jñāna-centered Pāśupata orientation is implied: when Brahma-vidyā is firm, expiations and external śauca become secondary to steady realization and disciplined inner yoga.