Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

मद्रक्तश्चाभ्यसेद्ध्यानं गुरुसंपर्कजं ध्रुवम् न बुध्यति तथा ध्याता स्थाप्य चित्तं द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

madraktaścābhyaseddhyānaṃ gurusaṃparkajaṃ dhruvam na budhyati tathā dhyātā sthāpya cittaṃ dvijottamāḥ

Translation

O pinakamainam sa mga dwija, tanging yaong may debosyon sa Akin ang dapat magsanay ng matatag na dhyāna na nagmumula sa pakikipag-ugnay sa Guru. Kung hindi, kahit itinatag ng nagmumuni ang isip, hindi pa rin niya tunay na nauunawaan ang Katotohanan (tattva).

Word by Word

• mad-raktaḥ: devoted to Me (Śiva)

• ca: and

• abhyaset: should practice

• dhyānam: meditation

• guru-saṃparkajam: born of contact/communion with the Guru

• dhruvam: firm, steady, certain

• na: not

• budhyati: understands, realizes

• tathā: thus/even so

• dhyātā: the meditator

• sthāpya: having fixed/established

• cittam: the mind

• dvija-uttamāḥ: O best of Brāhmaṇas (twice-born).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teaching within the Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner Linga-worship (dhyāna of Pati, Śiva) becomes effective only when grounded in devotion and authenticated by the Guru-connection; mere mental concentration without that link does not yield true realization.

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

Śiva-tattva is not grasped by technique alone; it is realized through grace-bearing means—bhakti to Pati and Guru-saṃparka—by which the pashu (bound soul) is led beyond pāśa (bondage) into true understanding.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Guru-rooted dhyāna: steady meditation arising from initiation/communion with the Guru, supported by devotion to Śiva—an essential principle in Pāśupata-oriented practice.