Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

विनायकोत्पत्तिः / ताण्डव-प्रसङ्गः (दारुक-वधः, काली-उत्पत्तिः, क्षेत्रपालोत्पत्तिः)

Devanagari script

एकेनांशेन देवेशं प्रविष्टा देवसत्तमम् न विवेद तदा ब्रह्मा देवाश्चेन्द्रपुरोगमाः

Transliteration

ekenāṃśena deveśaṃ praviṣṭā devasattamam na viveda tadā brahmā devāścendrapurogamāḥ

Translation

他们仅凭祂威能的一分微光而入于诸天之主，却终究不能了悟祂——无论四面梵天，还是以因陀罗为首的诸天，都未能如实见到那至上神祇。

Word by Word

• एकेनांशेन: by one portion/fragment (of power)

• देवेशम्: the Lord of the gods

• प्रविष्टाः: having entered/merged into

• देवसत्तमम्: the best of the gods, the Supreme Deva

• न: not

• विवेद: knew, realized, comprehended

• तदा: then

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā

• देवाः च: and the gods

• इन्द्रपुरोगमाः: led by Indra

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages; describing Brahma and the Devas’ experience)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Indra
• Devas

FAQs

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

It establishes that Shiva (Pati) is not grasped by mere entry into a partial manifestation; Linga worship trains the devotee to approach the transcendent Lord through disciplined reverence, not through pride of status or intellect.

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

Shiva is portrayed as the Supreme Deva whose reality remains beyond Brahmā and the Devas when approached only through a limited portion (aṁśa). This aligns with Shaiva Siddhanta: Pati is ultimately beyond the reach of conditioned knowers (pashu) bound by pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway supports Pashupata Yoga and Shaiva puja: realization of Shiva requires full surrender, purification, and grace—not merely contact with a fragmentary power or a partial theophany.