Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

यथा मृगो मृत्युभयस्य भीत उच्छिन्नवासो न लभेत निद्राम् एवं यतिर्ध्यानपरो महात्मा संसारभीतो न लभेत निद्राम्

Transliteration

yathā mṛgo mṛtyubhayasya bhīta ucchinnavāso na labheta nidrām evaṃ yatirdhyānaparo mahātmā saṃsārabhīto na labheta nidrām

Translation

Gaya ng usa na nanginginig sa takot sa kamatayan, na naputol ang kanlungan at kaligtasan kaya hindi makatagpo ng tulog—gayon din ang dakilang yati, nakatuon sa pagninilay (dhyāna), na takot sa saṃsāra, ay hindi makatagpo ng tulog.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as

• मृगः: a deer

• मृत्युभयस्य: of the fear of death

• भीतः: frightened

• उच्छिन्न-वासः: whose dwelling/shelter is destroyed, deprived of refuge

• न: not

• लभेत: would obtain

• निद्राम्: sleep

• एवम्: thus

• यतिः: renunciant, ascetic

• ध्यान-परः: intent on meditation

• महात्मा: great-souled

• संसार-भीतः: afraid of worldly bondage (saṃsāra)

• न लभेत: does not obtain

• निद्राम्: sleep

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching on vairagya and yogic urgency to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as inseparable from inner discipline: the devotee (pashu) should feel urgency to escape pasha (bondage) and turn to dhyana on Pati (Shiva), rather than resting in complacency.

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

By highlighting fear of saṃsāra as the driver toward meditation, the verse implies Shiva-tattva as the secure refuge beyond death and becoming—the Pati who alone grants freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Dhyāna (steady meditation) born of vairāgya and saṃsāra-bhaya—an essential Pāśupata-oriented inner practice that supports external Shiva-puja and Linga-upāsanā.