Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

सूर्यरश्मिस्वरूपकथनम्

Surya-Rashmi Svarupa Kathana

Devanagari script

अत्र गच्छन्ति निधनं जायन्ते च पुनः पुनः क्षणा मुहूर्ता दिवसा निशाः पक्षाश् च कृत्स्नशः

Transliteration

atra gacchanti nidhanaṃ jāyante ca punaḥ punaḥ kṣaṇā muhūrtā divasā niśāḥ pakṣāś ca kṛtsnaśaḥ

Translation

Ở đây, trong tiến trình thế gian này, từng sát-na và muhūrta, ngày và đêm, cùng trọn các nửa tháng, đều nhiều lần tan rã rồi lại sinh khởi—mãi xoay vần trong bánh xe của Thời gian.

Word by Word

• atra: here (in this realm of saṃsāra)

• gacchanti: go/enter

• nidhanam: dissolution, perishing, end

• jāyante: are born/arise

• ca: and

• punaḥ punaḥ: again and again

• kṣaṇāḥ: instants, moments

• muhūrtāḥ: muhūrtas (ritual time-units)

• divasāḥ: days

• niśāḥ: nights

• pakṣāḥ: fortnights (bright/dark halves of the lunar month)

• ca: and

• kṛtsnaśaḥ: wholly, completely, in full measure

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)

FAQs

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

It frames ritual time (kṣaṇa, muhūrta, day, night, pakṣa) as cyclical and perishing, implying that Linga-worship is aimed at realizing Pati (Shiva) who is beyond time, rather than merely perfecting time-bound merit.

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

By emphasizing that all measures of time repeatedly arise and dissolve, the verse implicitly points to Shiva-tattva as the timeless ground (Pati) in which temporal cycles appear—unchanging while kala turns.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights disciplined engagement with muhūrta and daily cycles for sadhana, but ultimately directs the practitioner toward Pashupata-oriented detachment and contemplation that loosens pasha (bondage) created by time-bound identification.