Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

उपमन्युना कृष्णाय पाशुपतज्ञान-प्रदानम् तथा दानविधि-फलश्रुतिः

Devanagari script

राज्यं पुत्रं धनं भव्यम् अश्वं यानमथापि वा सर्वस्वं वापि दातव्यं यदीच्छेन्मोक्षमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

rājyaṃ putraṃ dhanaṃ bhavyam aśvaṃ yānamathāpi vā sarvasvaṃ vāpi dātavyaṃ yadīcchenmokṣamuttamam

Translation

Nếu khát cầu giải thoát tối thượng, hãy sẵn lòng bố thí—vương quốc, con trai, tài sản, vật quý, ngựa, xe cộ, hay cả mọi sở hữu—vì sự xả ly ấy làm lỏng dây pāśa trói buộc paśu và xoay tâm về Pati, tức Śiva.

Word by Word

• राज्यम् (rājyam): kingdom/sovereignty

• पुत्रम् (putram): son/offspring

• धनम् (dhanam): wealth

• भव्यम् (bhavyam): worthy/noble goods, valuable possessions

• अश्वम् (aśvam): horse

• यानम् (yānam): vehicle/conveyance

• अथापि वा (athāpi vā): or even/alternatively

• सर्वस्वम् (sarvasvam): everything one owns, all possessions

• वापि (vāpi): even/also

• दातव्यम् (dātavyam): should be given, is to be donated

• यदि (yadi): if

• इच्छेत् (īcchet): one should desire, wishes

• मोक्षम् (mokṣam): liberation

• उत्तमम् (uttamam): supreme, highest.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching on dāna as a Shaiva sādhanā)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames dāna (selfless giving) as an essential Shaiva discipline: offerings made in Śiva’s spirit loosen attachment and purify intention, preparing the devotee for Linga-upāsanā that aims at mokṣa rather than mere worldly gain.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—toward whom the paśu (individual soul) turns when pāśa (bondage of possessiveness) is weakened through radical generosity and renunciation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights dāna as a practical limb of Shaiva sādhanā—an outer act that supports inner vairāgya (dispassion), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented purification by reducing egoic ownership and attachment.