Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

दृश्यते श्रूयते यद्यत् तत्तद्विद्धि शिवात्मकम् भेदो जनानां लोके ऽस्मिन् प्रतिभासो विचारतः

Transliteration

dṛśyate śrūyate yadyat tattadviddhi śivātmakam bhedo janānāṃ loke 'smin pratibhāso vicārataḥ

Translation

Anumang nakikita at anumang naririnig—alamin na ang lahat ng iyon ay may likas na kalikasan ni Śiva. Ang pagkakaiba-iba ng mga tao sa mundong ito ay pawang anyo lamang ng paglitaw; sa tunay na pagninilay at pag-unawa, ito’y nagiging malinaw na ilusyon.

Word by Word

• दृश्यते: is seen

• श्रूयते: is heard

• यद्यत्: whatever

• तत्तत्: that very (all of it)

• विद्धि: know (understand)

• शिवात्मकम्: having Śiva as its essence / of the nature of Śiva

• भेदः: difference, division

• जनानाम्: among people

• लोके अस्मिन्: in this world

• प्रतिभासः: appearance, seeming manifestation

• विचारतः: from (the standpoint of) inquiry/discrimination

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as training the gaze (darśana) and hearing (śravaṇa) to recognize all experience as Śiva-pervaded; the Linga becomes the focal symbol for this all-inclusive Shiva-consciousness.

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

Śiva is presented as the inner essence (śivātmakatva) of everything perceived and known; perceived plurality is a pratibhāsa (mere appearance) dissolved by vicāra (discriminative inquiry).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Viveka-based contemplation aligned with Pāśupata yoga: repeatedly discerning Pati (Śiva) as the ground of all perceptions, weakening pasha (bondage) born from bheda-buddhi (notion of separateness) in the pashu (bound soul).