Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

मदनदाहः — पार्वतीतपः, स्वयंवरलीला, देवस्तम्भनं, दिव्यचक्षुर्दानम्

Devanagari script

शक्रश् च भगवान् वह्निर् भास्करो भग एव च त्वष्टार्यमा विवस्वांश् च यमो वरुण एव च

Transliteration

śakraś ca bhagavān vahnir bhāskaro bhaga eva ca tvaṣṭāryamā vivasvāṃś ca yamo varuṇa eva ca

Translation

以及释迦罗（因陀罗）、可敬的火神瓦赫尼（阿耆尼）、婆斯迦罗（太阳）与婆伽；同样还有工匠神特瓦什特里、阿利耶曼、毗婆斯梵、阎摩与伐楼那——皆安住于主宰的圣令之中，作为祂的宇宙威能，依正法次第统摄造化。

Word by Word

• शक्रः (śakraḥ): Indra, lord of the Devas

• च (ca): and

• भगवान् (bhagavān): venerable, divine

• वह्निः (vahniḥ): Agni, the fire-god

• भास्करः (bhāskaraḥ): the Sun, illuminator

• भगः (bhagaḥ): Bhaga, dispenser of fortune/portion

• एव (eva): indeed/also

• च (ca): and

• त्वष्टा (tvaṣṭā): Tvaṣṭṛ, divine artisan

• अर्यमा (aryamā): Aryaman, guardian of social order

• विवस्वान् (vivasvān): Vivasvān, the solar deity

• च (ca): and

• यमः (yamaḥ): Yama, lord of restraint and justice

• वरुणः (varuṇaḥ): Varuṇa, lord of ṛta and waters

• एव (eva): indeed/also

• च (ca): and

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Shakra)
• Agni (Vahni)
• Surya (Bhaskara/Vivasvan)
• Bhaga
• Tvashtri
• Aryaman
• Yama
• Varuna
• Shiva (implied as Pati, the ordainer)

FAQs

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

It frames the Devas (Agni, Surya, Varuna, etc.) as subordinate cosmic functions under the Supreme Pati; thus, Linga worship is directed to Shiva as the root of all divine administrations, not merely to isolated deities.

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

By listing the principal Devas as operating within a single overarching ordinance, it implies Shiva-tattva as the supreme governing reality (Pati) who empowers and regulates all luminous and juridical forces that bind or release the pashu through pasha (karma and ṛta).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative upāsanā aligned with Pāśupata orientation: during puja, one internalizes that offerings through Agni and salutations to solar and moral deities culminate in Shiva, the Linga’s indwelling Lord who transcends yet pervades these powers.