Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

क्षीरार्थमदहत्सर्वं तपसा तं निवारय एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवः पिनाकी परमेश्वरः शक्ररूपं समास्थाय गन्तुं चक्रे मतिं तदा

Transliteration

kṣīrārthamadahatsarvaṃ tapasā taṃ nivāraya etasminnantare devaḥ pinākī parameśvaraḥ śakrarūpaṃ samāsthāya gantuṃ cakre matiṃ tadā

Translation

为求牛乳，他以苦行之火焚尽一切；当以苦行之力制止他。其间，主宰——执持弓者毗那迦的至上自在天——化作释迦（因陀罗）之形，遂起意出行。

Word by Word

• क्षीरार्थम्: for the sake of milk

• अदहत्: he burned

• सर्वम्: everything

• तपसा: by austerity/ascetic power

• तम्: him

• निवारय: restrain/ward off

• एतस्मिन् अन्तरे: in the meantime/within this interval

• देवः: the Lord (Deva)

• पिनाकी: bearer of the Pināka bow (Shiva)

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord

• शक्ररूपम्: the form of Śakra (Indra)

• समास्थाय: having assumed/taken on

• गन्तुम्: to go

• चक्रे: made/formed

• मतिम्: intention/resolve

• तदा: then

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parameshvara
• Pinaki
• Indra (Shakra)

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as Pati who intervenes to protect cosmic order; Linga worship centers on this Parameshvara who governs and pacifies destructive imbalance through grace and purposeful action.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as sovereign freedom (svātantrya): Parameshvara can assume any form (here, Śakra) to guide events, revealing the Lord’s mastery over roles and powers without being bound by them.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity) is presented as the restraining spiritual force—aligned with Pāśupata discipline—by which destructive tendencies are checked and brought under dharmic control.