Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

आचार्य-धर्मलक्षण-श्रद्धाभक्तिप्राधान्यं तथा लिङ्गे ध्यान-पूजाविधानसंकेतः

Adhyaya 10

Devanagari script

अधारणे महत्त्वे च अधर्म इति चोच्यते अत्रेष्टप्रापको धर्म आचार्यैरुपदिश्यते

Transliteration

adhāraṇe mahattve ca adharma iti cocyate atreṣṭaprāpako dharma ācāryairupadiśyate

Translation

凡不能扶持正法之序，却又妄称伟大者，名为“阿达摩”（adharma）。在此，诸阿阇梨（ācārya）教示：“达摩”（dharma）乃真实能扶持者，并引导帕舒（paśu，灵魂）获得所愿之善——究竟则是帕提（Pati）湿婆（Śiva）的恩 grace。

Word by Word

• adhāraṇe: in non-upholding/that which does not sustain

• mahattve: in (mere) greatness/pretended importance

• ca: and

• adharmaḥ: adharma, unrighteousness

• iti: thus

• ca: and

• ucyate: is called/declared

• atra: here/in this context

• iṣṭa-prāpakaḥ: that which brings attainment of the desired goal

• dharmaḥ: dharma, righteous duty/order

• ācāryaiḥ: by the teachers/ācāryas

• upadiśyate: is taught/expounded

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional definitions as taught by ācāryas)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames dharma as the force that upholds order and grants the sought fruit; in Linga worship, this means ritual and conduct must be sustaining, humble, and aligned with Śiva (Pati), not merely outwardly “great.”

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

Śiva is implied as the highest aim behind “iṣṭa” (the true desired good): the Pati whose grace is reached through dharma that upholds, rather than adharma that destabilizes.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A principle of Pāśupata discipline is implied: right conduct and sustaining practice (dharma) is the means to attain the intended fruit, whereas showy “greatness” without support is adharma.