Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

शरभप्रादुर्भावो नाम षण्णवतितमोऽध्यायः (जलन्धरविमर्दनम्)

Devanagari script

गङ्गा निरुद्धा बाहुभ्यां लीलार्थं हिमवद्गिरौ नारीणां मम भृत्यैश् च वज्रो बद्धो दिवौकसाम्

Transliteration

gaṅgā niruddhā bāhubhyāṃ līlārthaṃ himavadgirau nārīṇāṃ mama bhṛtyaiś ca vajro baddho divaukasām

Translation

Vì cuộc chơi, trên núi Himavat, dòng Gaṅgā đã bị (đôi) tay ngài ngăn lại; và vì cớ các nữ nhân, ngay cả lôi chùy Vajra của Indra cũng bị các tùy tùng của ta trói buộc giữa chư thiên nơi cõi trời.

Word by Word

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā): the river Gaṅgā

• निरुद्धा (niruddhā): restrained, checked

• बाहुभ्यां (bāhubhyāṃ): by (his) two arms

• लीलार्थं (līlārthaṃ): for play, as a divine sport

• हिमवद्गिरौ (himavadgirau): on/in the Himālaya mountain

• नारीणां (nārīṇāṃ): of/for women

• मम (mama): my

• भृत्यैः (bhṛtyaiḥ): by servants, attendants

• च (ca): and

• वज्रः (vajraḥ): the thunderbolt (of Indra)

• बद्धः (baddhaḥ): bound, restrained

• दिवौकसाम् (divaukasām): of the gods, of the heavenly beings

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s līlā to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga
• Himavan (Himalaya)
• Shiva’s Ganas (attendants)
• Indra (implied by Vajra)
• Devas (divaukas)

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose power subdues even cosmic forces like Gaṅgā and Indra’s Vajra—supporting the Linga as the sign of the highest sovereignty worthy of worship.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as effortless mastery (aiśvarya) expressed as līlā: he restrains Gaṅgā and nullifies deva-weapons through his attendants, indicating that all powers operate under his governance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata orientation: cultivate śaraṇāgati (surrender) to Pati, recognizing that worldly protections and deva-powers are secondary to Shiva’s grace—an inner discipline supporting Linga-pūjā and mantra-japa.