Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

तत्त्वानाम् अग्रजो यस्मान् महांश् च परिमाणतः विशेषेभ्यो गुणेभ्यो ऽपि महानिति ततः स्मृतः

Transliteration

tattvānām agrajo yasmān mahāṃś ca parimāṇataḥ viśeṣebhyo guṇebhyo 'pi mahāniti tataḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Vì nó là đứa con đầu tiên trong các tattva và rộng lớn về lượng, vượt cả những sai biệt riêng và cả các guṇa, nên được tưởng niệm là Mahān (Đại Nguyên Lý).

Word by Word

• तत्त्वानाम्: among the principles (tattvas)

• अग्रजः: first-born/eldest

• यस्मात्: because/for the reason that

• महान्: great (Mahān)

• च: and

• परिमाणतः: by extent/measure

• विशेषेभ्यः: than the specifics/particulars (viśeṣas)

• गुणेभ्यः: than the guṇas

• अपि: even/also

• महान् इति: as ‘Mahān’

• ततः: therefore/from that reason

• स्मृतः: is remembered/known

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the tattva-teaching within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames creation as an ordered emergence of tattvas, preparing the devotee to see the Liṅga as the transcendent Pati who stands beyond the guṇas and their evolutes.

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

By emphasizing that Mahān is ‘greater than’ the guṇas and particulars, the verse supports a Shaiva reading where Shiva as Pati is ultimately beyond guṇa-bound prakṛti, while creation proceeds through graded principles.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tattva-viveka (discriminative knowledge of principles) is implied as a Pashupata-oriented contemplative aid: discerning guṇa-bound pasha from the reality of Pati to loosen bondage in the pashu.