Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya

Devanagari script

राज्यं स्वर्गं च मोक्षं च भोजनं क्षीरसंभवम् न लभन्ते प्रियाण्येषां नो तुष्यति सदा भवः

Transliteration

rājyaṃ svargaṃ ca mokṣaṃ ca bhojanaṃ kṣīrasaṃbhavam na labhante priyāṇyeṣāṃ no tuṣyati sadā bhavaḥ

Translation

他们得不到王国、天界与解脱，甚至连由乳所生的滋养也得不到；对这样的人而言，毫无可爱之果可得——而婆伐（湿婆）也从不悦纳他们。

Word by Word

• राज्यम्: kingdom/sovereignty

• स्वर्गम्: heaven

• च: and

• मोक्षम्: liberation

• च: and

• भोजनम्: food/sustenance

• क्षीरसंभवम्: produced from milk (milk-based nourishment)

• न: not

• लभन्ते: they obtain

• प्रियाणि: dear/desired things

• एषाम्: of these people

• न: not

• उ: indeed/also

• तुष्यति: is pleased/satisfied

• सदा: always

• भवः: Bhava (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages; internal context inferred)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It asserts that external gains—power, svarga-merit, even the claim of moksha—are fruitless if they do not culminate in pleasing Bhava (Śiva); true Linga-worship aims at Śiva’s prasāda through purity and devotion, not mere acquisition.

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

Śiva is presented as Bhava, the Pati whose satisfaction is the decisive spiritual criterion; without alignment to Śiva-tattva (devotion, right conduct, inner transformation), the pashu remains bound and does not reach the intended fruit.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is prioritizing bhakti-yukta Linga-pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented inner discipline (reducing pasha like ego and desire) over ritual or merit pursued only for worldly or heavenly rewards.