Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 188

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे रुद्रो भगवान्नीललोहितः जनार्दनो ऽपि भगवान् देवानामपि संनिधौ

Transliteration

ityuktvāntardadhe rudro bhagavānnīlalohitaḥ janārdano 'pi bhagavān devānāmapi saṃnidhau

Translation

Nói xong, Bhagavān Rudra—Nīlalohita—liền ẩn mất khỏi tầm mắt. Và Bhagavān Janārdana (Viṣṇu) cũng vậy, ngay trước mặt chư Thiên, rút khỏi sự tri giác của họ—tỏ rõ rằng Đấng Pati siêu việt, không bị trói buộc bởi các giác quan của paśu, tự tại theo ý nguyện của chính Ngài.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• uktvā: having spoken

• antardadhe: disappeared/withdrew from sight

• rudraḥ: Rudra (Śiva)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• nīla-lohitaḥ: the Blue-and-Red One (epithet of Rudra)

• janārdanaḥ: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

• api: also

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• devānām: of the Devas

• api: even/also

• saṃnidhau: in the presence/nearby

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Nīlalohita
• Janārdana (Vishnu)
• Devas

FAQs

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

It underscores that the Supreme (Pati) can become manifest or unmanifest at will; Linga worship trains the devotee to recognize the Lord beyond mere sensory presence, through steady bhakti and right ritual focus.

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

Shiva appears as Bhagavān Nīlalohita yet remains transcendent—capable of withdrawing from perception even while present—showing His sovereignty over māyā and the limitations of the devas’ sight.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata orientation: stabilize awareness beyond external signs—through japa, dhyāna, and Linga-upāsanā—so the seeker does not depend on visible manifestations to know the Pati.