Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 114

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

ध्यानं द्वादशकं यावत् समाधिर् अभिधीयते अथवा ज्ञानिनां विप्राः सम्पर्कादेव जायते

Transliteration

dhyānaṃ dvādaśakaṃ yāvat samādhir abhidhīyate athavā jñānināṃ viprāḥ samparkādeva jāyate

Translation

Thiền quán được duy trì theo lượng mười hai lần như vậy được tuyên bố là samādhi. Hoặc nữa, hỡi các brāhmaṇa, samādhi cũng có thể sinh khởi chỉ do sự tiếp xúc gần gũi với những bậc tri chân—những người an trụ trong Śiva như Pati, vượt ngoài các dây trói pāśa của Paśu (linh hồn).

Word by Word

• ध्यानम् (dhyānam): meditation

• द्वादशकम् (dvādaśakam): a twelvefold set/measure

• यावत् (yāvat): up to, as long as

• समाधिः (samādhiḥ): absorptive concentration, yogic samadhi

• अभिधीयते (abhidhīyate): is declared, is defined

• अथवा (athavā): or else, alternatively

• ज्ञानिनाम् (jñāninām): of the knowers, realized ones

• विप्राः (viprāḥ): O brāhmaṇas, sages

• सम्पर्कात् (samparkāt): from association/contact

• एव (eva): indeed, alone

• जायते (jāyate): arises, is born.

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It equates sustained inner contemplation with samādhi and implies that true Liṅga-upāsanā is completed inwardly when the mind becomes absorbed in Śiva (Pati), especially through satsanga with realized devotees.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—because samādhi (release-oriented absorption) is presented as arising when one contacts jñānins who abide in that highest Śiva-tattva beyond pāśa (bondage) of the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pāśupata-oriented dhyāna culminating in samādhi is highlighted, along with satsanga: association with jñānins is taught as a direct catalyst for yogic absorption.