Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Varaha-Pradurbhava Context: Prahlada’s Bhakti, Narasimha’s Ugra-Form, and Shiva’s Sharabha Intervention

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तास्तदा तेन दैत्येन सुदुरात्मना निजघ्नुर्देवदेवस्य भृत्यं प्रह्रादमव्ययम्

Transliteration

evamuktāstadā tena daityena sudurātmanā nijaghnurdevadevasya bhṛtyaṃ prahrādamavyayam

Translation

Sa gayong utos ng Daitya na masamang-loob, sinalakay nila si Prahlāda—ang di-nasisirang lingkod ng Diyos ng mga diyos—ngunit nanatili siyang matatag at di-nayanig sa katapatan sa Kataas-taasang Pati (Śiva).

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus

• उक्ताः: having been spoken to/commanded

• तदा: then

• तेन: by him

• दैत्येन: by the Daitya (demon)

• सुदुरात्मना: of very evil nature

• निजघ्नुः: they struck/attacked

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods

• भृत्यम्: servant/devotee

• प्रह्रादम्: Prahlada

• अव्ययम्: imperishable, undecaying

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prahlada
• Daitya

FAQs

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

It frames the devotee (bhṛtya) as one who remains ‘avyaya’—spiritually unbroken—through exclusive refuge in the Deva of devas, a core attitude behind Linga-upāsanā: steadfast surrender to Pati beyond fear and harm.

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

By calling Shiva ‘Deva-deva’, it points to Shiva-tattva as the supreme Pati—transcendent Lord over all devas—whose bond with the pashu (individual soul) is not destroyed even when the body is attacked.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights unwavering bhakti and inner steadiness (dhairya) as a practical limb of Pāśupata orientation—maintaining one-pointed allegiance to Pati amid opposition—rather than an external rite.