Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा च भक्त्या चतुराननेन स्तुतो हसञ्शैलसुतां निरीक्ष्य स्तवं तदा प्राह महानुभावं महाभुजो मन्दरशृङ्गवासी

Transliteration

śrutvā ca bhaktyā caturānanena stuto hasañśailasutāṃ nirīkṣya stavaṃ tadā prāha mahānubhāvaṃ mahābhujo mandaraśṛṅgavāsī

Translation

Nghe bài tán tụng ấy do Brahmā bốn mặt dâng lên với lòng bhakti, Đấng đại lực, bậc có cánh tay hùng mạnh, ngự trên đỉnh Mandara, liền mỉm cười. Nhìn về Nữ nhi của Núi (Pārvatī), bậc cao cả ấy bấy giờ nói với Brahmā, người có tâm chí cao thượng.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard

• च: and

• भक्त्या: with devotion

• चतुराननेन: by the four-faced one (Brahmā)

• स्तुतः: praised

• हसन्: smiling

• शैलसुताम्: the daughter of the mountain (Pārvatī)

• निरीक्ष्य: having looked at

• स्तवम्: the hymn/praise

• तदा: then

• प्राह: said/spoke

• महानुभावम्: to the great-souled/noble one

• महाभुजः: the great-armed one

• मन्दरशृङ्गवासी: the dweller on Mandara’s peak

Speaker

Suta (narrating the scene; Shiva is about to speak to Brahma)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Brahma
• Mandara

FAQs

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

It shows the core puja principle that sincere bhakti and stuti move the Pati (Lord Shiva) to reveal guidance and grace—implying that worship is not mere ritual, but a relational turning of the pashu toward the Lord.

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

Shiva is portrayed as the compassionate, conscious Lord who responds to devotion, while remaining inseparable from Shakti (he smiles and looks to Pārvatī), indicating the integral Shiva–Shakti unity behind all divine action.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Devotional stuti as an upāya (means): praise offered with single-pointed bhakti that prepares the aspirant for instruction—aligned with the Pāśupata emphasis on devotion, surrender, and receiving the Lord’s teaching.