Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

उपलेपनादिकथनम्

Vastraputa-jala, Ahimsa, and Conduct in Shiva Worship

Devanagari script

ये पुत्रपौत्रवत्स्नेहाद् रुद्रलोकं व्रजन्ति ते तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वस्त्रपूतेन वारिणा

Transliteration

ye putrapautravatsnehād rudralokaṃ vrajanti te tasmātsarvaprayatnena vastrapūtena vāriṇā

Translation

Yaong may pag-ibig na gaya ng sa sariling anak at apo ay nakararating sa daigdig ni Rudra—kaya, sa lahat ng pagsisikap, gumamit ng tubig na dinalisay sa pagsasala sa tela (sa paglilingkod at pagsamba).

Word by Word

• ये (ye): those who

• पुत्र-पौत्र-वत्-स्नेहात् (putra-pautra-vat-snehāt): out of affection like (for) sons and grandsons

• रुद्रलोकम् (rudralokam): Rudra’s realm/world

• व्रजन्ति (vrajanti): go, attain

• ते (te): they

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore

• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन (sarva-prayatnena): with all effort

• वस्त्र-पूतेन (vastra-pūtena): purified/filtered by cloth

• वारिणा (vāriṇā): with water

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It stresses dravya-shuddhi (purity of offerings): even water should be cloth-filtered, showing that careful, reverent worship of the Linga supports attainment of Rudraloka.

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

Shiva is implied as Pati (the Lord) whose loka is reached not merely by ritual, but by tender, familial devotion (putra-pautra-vat-sneha), indicating grace responding to bhakti joined with purity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A key puja-practice is highlighted: offering vastrapūta-vāri (cloth-filtered water), reflecting outer purity that supports inner purification central to Shaiva sadhana and Pashupata discipline.