Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 131

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

Devanagari script

पुंसां पशुपतिर्देवश् चाष्टधाहं व्यवस्थितः काठिन्यं यत्तनौ सर्वं पार्थिवं परिगीयते

Transliteration

puṃsāṃ paśupatirdevaś cāṣṭadhāhaṃ vyavasthitaḥ kāṭhinyaṃ yattanau sarvaṃ pārthivaṃ parigīyate

Translation

Para sa mga nilalang na may katawan, ang Deva na Paśupati ay itinatag dito bilang walong-anyo na prinsipyo. Anumang tigas na nasa katawan—lahat ng yaon ay ipinahahayag na sangkap ng lupa (pārthiva).

Word by Word

• puṁsām: of human beings/embodied souls (paśu)

• paśupatiḥ: Pashupati, Lord of the bound souls (Pati)

• devaḥ: the Divine Lord

• ca: and

• aṣṭadhā: in eightfold form

• aham: I (as the Lord speaking in first person)

• vyavasthitaḥ: established/abiding

• kāṭhinyaṁ: hardness/solidity

• yat: whatever/that which

• tanau: in the body

• sarvam: all

• pārthivam: belonging to earth-element (pṛthivī-tattva)

• parigīyate: is declared/celebrated as

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the doctrine as taught in the Linga Purana’s Shaiva exposition)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pashupati

FAQs

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

It links Shiva (Pashupati) to an eightfold cosmic-and-bodily framework, guiding the devotee to see the body and elements as pervaded by the Lord—supporting bhuta-shuddhi and Linga-centered contemplation.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati—the governing Lord of all pashus—present as an ordered, eightfold manifestation, while still transcending the elements that constitute embodied experience.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Elemental discernment (bhuta-viveka) and purification: recognizing hardness/solidity in the body as earth-element, a step used in Pashupata Yoga and Shaiva bhuta-shuddhi prior to worship.