Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

उपलेपनादिकथनम्

Vastraputa-jala, Ahimsa, and Conduct in Shiva Worship

Devanagari script

कार्यमभ्युक्षणं नित्यं स्नपनं च विशेषतः त्रैलोक्यमखिलं हत्वा यत्फलं परिकीर्त्यते

Transliteration

kāryamabhyukṣaṇaṃ nityaṃ snapanaṃ ca viśeṣataḥ trailokyamakhilaṃ hatvā yatphalaṃ parikīrtyate

Translation

Hằng ngày nên thực hành abhyukṣaṇa (rảy nước thanh tịnh) và nhất là snapana (tắm lễ) cho Śiva-liṅga. Quả phúc được tuyên dương cho việc ấy được nói là lớn lao đến mức ngang với công đức được kể ra—even sau khi hủy diệt trọn vẹn cả ba cõi—thật là công đức thù thắng đã được xác chứng.

Word by Word

• kāryam: should be done/ought to be performed

• abhyukṣaṇam: sprinkling (ritual aspersion with sanctified water)

• nityam: daily/constantly

• snapanaṃ: bathing/ablution (of the Liṅga)

• ca: and

• viśeṣataḥ: especially/in particular

• trailokyam: the three worlds

• akhilam: wholly/entirely

• hatvā: having slain/having destroyed

• yat-phalam: whatever fruit/merit

• parikīrtyate: is proclaimed/celebrated in scripture

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates daily abhyukṣaṇa and especially Liṅga-snapana (abhiṣeka) as a supreme Śaiva practice whose merit is proclaimed as extraordinarily vast, underscoring Liṅga-pūjā as a direct means of receiving Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

By declaring immeasurable fruit for a simple act of worship, the verse points to Śiva as Pati—the sovereign bestower of liberation and merit—whose presence in the Liṅga makes ritual devotion a potent channel for dissolving pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritually, it highlights abhyukṣaṇa (sanctified sprinkling) and snapana/abhiṣeka (Liṅga bathing) as daily disciplines; yogically, it supports Pāśupata-oriented devotion where steady, repeated worship purifies the paśu and turns it toward Śiva through bhakti and kriyā.