Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

दक्षयज्ञध्वंसः—वीरभद्रप्रेषणं, देवविष्ण्वोः पराजयः, पुनरनुग्रहः

Devanagari script

शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ता असंख्याताश् च जज्ञिरे तान्सर्वानपि देवो ऽसौ नारायणसमप्रभान्

Transliteration

śaṅkhacakragadāhastā asaṃkhyātāś ca jajñire tānsarvānapi devo 'sau nārāyaṇasamaprabhān

Translation

无量众生出生，手执海螺、神轮与钉锤；那位天神见他们皆光明炽盛，与那罗延同等辉耀。然而在湿婆派的理解中，此类神形与神力仍在摩耶之域中显现，唯有主宰Pati（湿婆）独立自在，超越一切衡量。

Word by Word

• शङ्ख (śaṅkha): conch

• चक्र (cakra): discus

• गदा (gadā): mace/club

• हस्ताः (hastāḥ): having in their hands

• असंख्याताः (asaṃkhyātāḥ): countless

• च (ca): and

• जज्ञिरे (jajñire): were born/arose

• तान् (tān): them

• सर्वान् (sarvān): all

• अपि (api): indeed/also

• देवः (devaḥ): the god/the Deva

• असौ (asau): that (one)

• नारायण (nārāyaṇa): Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu)

• सम (sama): equal

• प्रभान् (prabhān): in radiance/splendor

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even countless radiant divine forms (with iconic emblems) arise within creation; Linga worship centers on Pati—Śiva as the transcendent source beyond all manifested splendors.

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

By implication, it contrasts measurable glory (even Nārāyaṇa-like radiance) with the Shaiva Siddhānta view that Śiva-tattva is svatantra (independent) and the ultimate ground from which all deva-forms and powers appear.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A key Pāśupata takeaway is viveka (discriminative insight): recognizing deva-splendor as within Māyā while directing worship and yogic orientation to the Linga—Pati who liberates the paśu from pāśa.