Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

मदनदाहः — पार्वतीतपः, स्वयंवरलीला, देवस्तम्भनं, दिव्यचक्षुर्दानम्

Devanagari script

यमो ऽपि दण्डं खड्गं च निरृतिर्मुनिपुङ्गवाः वरुणो नागपाशं च ध्वजयष्टिं समीरणः

Transliteration

yamo 'pi daṇḍaṃ khaḍgaṃ ca nirṛtirmunipuṅgavāḥ varuṇo nāgapāśaṃ ca dhvajayaṣṭiṃ samīraṇaḥ

Translation

噢，诸牟尼之最胜者！阎摩执刑杖与利剑；尼利提亦受其所配之兵；伐楼那持蛇索；而萨弥罗那（风神伐由）执旗杖——如是诸天徽记，皆依湿婆之宇宙法令而安置。

Word by Word

• yamaḥ: Yama, lord of restraint and justice

• api: also/indeed

• daṇḍam: staff, rod of punishment (discipline)

• khaḍgam: sword

• ca: and

• nirṛtiḥ: Nirṛti, deity of dissolution/inauspicious quarter

• munipuṅgavāḥ: O foremost among sages

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

• nāgapāśam: serpent-noose (a binding cord/snare)

• dhvaja-yaṣṭim: banner-pole, standard-staff

• samīraṇaḥ: Samīraṇa/Vāyu, the Wind-god

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Nirṛti
• Varuṇa
• Samīraṇa (Vāyu)
• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It frames the universe as governed by assigned powers and insignia under Śiva’s ordinance, reinforcing that Linga-pūjā aligns the worshipper (paśu) with the cosmic order that emanates from Pati (Śiva).

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

By depicting ordered delegation—justice (Yama), dissolution (Nirṛti), waters and law (Varuṇa), and vital wind (Vāyu)—it implies Śiva-tattva as the supreme regulator in whom these functions are integrated and from whom their authority proceeds.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly supports Pāśupata discipline: daṇḍa (restraint), khaḍga (cutting ignorance), and pāśa (bondage) symbolism guide the sādhaka toward loosening pāśa through regulated conduct and Śiva-centered worship.