Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama

Devanagari script

विष्णुना जिष्णुना साक्षाद् अन्ने सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् भूतानाम् अन्नदानेन प्रीतिर् भवति शङ्करे

Transliteration

viṣṇunā jiṣṇunā sākṣād anne sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam bhūtānām annadānena prītir bhavati śaṅkare

Translation

Sa pamamagitan ni Viṣṇu—ang laging nagwawagi—ang lahat ng ito ay tuwirang naitatag sa pagkain. Kaya, sa pagbibigay ng pagkain sa mga nilalang na may buhay, nalulugod si Śaṅkara; sapagkat ang pagkain ang sumusuporta sa paśu (kaluluwang may katawan) at sa kaayusan ng daigdig.

Word by Word

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu

• जिष्णुना: by the victorious one

• साक्षात्: directly/manifestly

• अन्ने: in food

• सर्वम्: all (the world/all beings)

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: established/supported

• भूतानाम्: of living beings/creatures

• अन्नदानेन: by giving food (food-charity)

• प्रीतिः: pleasure/grace/being pleased

• भवति: arises/becomes

• शङ्करे: in/for Śaṅkara (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching on dana within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Shankara

FAQs

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

It teaches that sustaining life through anna-dāna is a direct form of devotion that pleases Śiva, aligning external worship (pūjā) with compassionate support of embodied beings.

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

Śiva is shown as the Pati who responds with grace (prīti) when the paśu is cared for; pleasing Śaṅkara is linked to upholding cosmic support through dharmic nourishment.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The highlighted practice is anna-dāna—feeding beings as a dharmic observance that complements Śiva-pūjā and supports purification conducive to Pāśupata-oriented discipline.