Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

Adhyaya 40: Kali-yuga Lakshana, Yuga-sandhyamsha, and the Re-emergence of Dharma

Devanagari script

श्रौतस्मार्तकृतानां च धर्मे सप्तर्षिदर्शिते केचिद्धर्मव्यवस्थार्थं तिष्ठन्तीह युगक्षये

Transliteration

śrautasmārtakṛtānāṃ ca dharme saptarṣidarśite keciddharmavyavasthārthaṃ tiṣṭhantīha yugakṣaye

Translation

Trong Chánh pháp được dạy qua Śruti và Smṛti, như bảy vị Thất Hiền (Saptarṣi) đã hiển bày, có những bậc vẫn lưu lại nơi đây vào lúc tận cùng thời đại, để gìn giữ và tái lập trật tự đúng đắn của Dharma.

Word by Word

• श्रौत (śrauta): based on Vedic revelation/Śruti

• स्मार्त (smārta): based on Smṛti tradition

• कृतानाम् (kṛtānām): of those that are practiced/established

• च (ca): and

• धर्मे (dharme): in Dharma / in the religious law

• सप्तर्षि-दर्शिते (saptarṣi-darśite): shown/revealed by the Seven Ṛṣis

• केचित् (kecit): some

• धर्म-व्यवस्था-अर्थम् (dharma-vyavasthā-artham): for the sake of arranging/maintaining Dharma’s order

• तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti): they stand/remain

• इह (iha): here (in the world)

• युग-क्षये (yuga-kṣaye): at the end of the yuga

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya; describing the continuity of Dharma at yuga-end)

Characters & Entities

• Saptarshi

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-centered Shaiva practice within the larger śrauta–smārta Dharma revealed by the sages, emphasizing that authentic worship and conduct are preserved even at yuga’s end to keep Dharma ordered.

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

Implicitly, it points to Pati (the Lord) sustaining Dharma through enlightened seers; in Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Shiva’s governance (niyati) supports the world-order so that Pashus can follow Dharma and move toward liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights śrauta and smārta observances as the framework for right practice; in a Shaiva reading, this includes disciplined ritual conduct and rule-based worship that supports Pashupata-oriented steadiness (niyama) when Dharma declines.