Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

तदचक्षुस्तदश्रोत्रं तदपाणि अपादकम् तदजातमभूतं च तदशब्दं द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

tadacakṣustadaśrotraṃ tadapāṇi apādakam tadajātamabhūtaṃ ca tadaśabdaṃ dvijottamāḥ

Translation

O pinakamainam sa mga dalawang-ulit-na-ipinanganak, Yaong Kataas-taasang Pati—si Śiva—ay walang mata at walang tainga; walang kamay at walang paa; hindi isinilang at hindi bunga ng pagiging-nagaganap; at lampas sa tunog—higit sa lahat ng tanda ng pandama.

Word by Word

• tat: That (Supreme Reality/Śiva as Pati)

• acakṣuḥ: without eyes

• aśrotram: without ears

• apāṇi: without hands

• apādakam: without feet

• ajātam: unborn

• abhūtam: not become/uncaused (not an effect)

• ca: and

• aśabdam: beyond sound/wordless

• dvijottamāḥ: O best among the twice-born (brahmins/sages)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes that the Liṅga points to Śiva as nirguṇa—beyond sense-organs and material attributes—so worship is directed to the Supreme Pati, not merely to a physical form.

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

Śiva is described apophatically: not limited by eyes, ears, hands, feet, birth, or sound—indicating the unconditioned, unborn Lord (Pati) who transcends pasha-bound sensory cognition of the paśu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It supports Pāśupata-style contemplation (dhyāna) on the formless Lord—silencing sensory grasping and resting awareness in the wordless (aśabda) reality signified by the Liṅga.