Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

प्रजया कर्मणा मुक्तिर् धनेन च सतां न हि त्यागेनैकेन मुक्तिः स्यात् तदभावाद्भ्रमत्यसौ

Transliteration

prajayā karmaṇā muktir dhanena ca satāṃ na hi tyāgenaikena muktiḥ syāt tadabhāvādbhramatyasau

Translation

Ang paglaya (mukti) ay hindi nakakamit sa pamamagitan ng supling, ni sa gawaing ritwal (karma), ni sa yaman—kahit para sa mga banal. Hindi rin nagmumula ang paglaya sa pagtalikod lamang; kung walang tunay na kaalaman at pagkakabatid kay Śiva, ang kaluluwa (paśu) ay gumagala lamang sa pagkalito.

Word by Word

• प्रजया (prajayā): by progeny/offspring

• कर्मणा (karmaṇā): by action/rites

• मुक्तिः (muktiḥ): liberation

• धनेन (dhanena): by wealth

• च (ca): and

• सताम् (satām): of the good/virtuous

• न (na): not

• हि (hi): indeed

• त्यागेन (tyāgena): by renunciation

• एकेन (ekena): alone/merely

• मुक्तिः (muktiḥ): liberation

• स्यात् (syāt): would be/should arise

• तदभावात् (tad-abhāvāt): due to the absence of that (true wisdom/realization)

• भ्रमति (bhramati): wanders/is deluded

• असौ (asau): this one (the individual soul).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching as part of the Purana’s discourse on moksha)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It redirects the seeker from external supports—progeny, wealth, and even bare renunciation—to inner Shiva-realization; Linga worship is thus validated as a means of turning the paśu toward Pati through jñāna and bhakti, not mere social or ritual accomplishment.

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

By denying liberation through worldly means and isolated tyāga, it implies Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati whose grace/realization alone cuts pasha; without that, the paśu continues in saṃsāric wandering.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata orientation: karma and external acts are insufficient unless joined with viveka, inner detachment, and Shiva-centered upāsanā (such as Linga-pūjā with japa/dhyāna) leading to true jñāna.