Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 156

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

Devanagari script

न देयं यस्य कस्यापि शिवोक्तं मुनिपुङ्गवाः दातव्यं योगिने नित्यं भस्मनिष्ठाय सुप्रियम्

Transliteration

na deyaṃ yasya kasyāpi śivoktaṃ munipuṅgavāḥ dātavyaṃ yogine nityaṃ bhasmaniṣṭhāya supriyam

Translation

O pinakamahuhusay na pantas, ang iniutos ni Śiva ay hindi dapat ibigay kung kani-kanino; dapat itong laging ipagkaloob sa isang yogin—yaong matatag sa pagtalima sa bhasma, ang banal na abo—sapagkat ang gayong deboto ay lubhang minamahal ng Panginoon.

Word by Word

• न (na): not

• देयम् (deyam): to be given/fit to be given

• यस्य कस्यापि (yasya kasyāpi): to anyone whatsoever

• शिवोक्तम् (śivoktam): spoken/ordained by Śiva

• मुनिपुङ्गवाः (munipuṅgavāḥ): O foremost of sages

• दातव्यम् (dātavyam): should be given

• योगिने (yogine): to a yogin

• नित्यम् (nityam): always

• भस्मनिष्ठाय (bhasmaniṣṭhāya): to one established in bhasma (sacred ash) observance

• सुप्रियम् (supriyam): very dear (to Śiva)/most pleasing

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s injunction) to the sages of Naimisharanya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sets an eligibility rule: Śiva’s prescribed sacred items/teachings connected to Linga-oriented discipline are to be entrusted to qualified practitioners—especially yogins devoted to bhasma—rather than distributed indiscriminately.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as a living authority (Pati) whose ordinances protect the sanctity of the path; what is “Śivokta” is not merely information but a regulated means for the pashu (bound soul) to move beyond pāśa (bondage) through proper initiation-like fitness and observance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Bhasma-niṣṭhā—steadfast observance of sacred ash (bhasma-dhāraṇa)—is highlighted as a marker of a Pāśupata-leaning yogic discipline and a key qualification for receiving Śaiva sacred gifts or instructions.