Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

त्वयैव कथितं सर्वं भवनिन्दारतेन वै प्रसंगाद्देवदेवस्य निर्गुणत्वं महात्मनः

Transliteration

tvayaiva kathitaṃ sarvaṃ bhavanindāratena vai prasaṃgāddevadevasya nirguṇatvaṃ mahātmanaḥ

Translation

确实，你本人已道尽一切，本意虽在以此诋毁 Bhava（湿婆）。然而，就在这番论述之中，你却也揭示了这位众神之神、伟大灵魂的 Nirguna（无属性）本质。

Word by Word

• त्वया एव: by you alone

• कथितम्: spoken/declared

• सर्वम्: everything

• भव-निन्दा-रतॆन: by one engaged in blaming Bhava (Śiva)

• वै: indeed

• प्रसङ्गात्: incidentally/in the course of the topic

• देव-देवस्य: of the God of gods

• निर्गुणत्वम्: quality-less transcendence (nirguṇa state)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the internal disputation as part of the Purva-Bhaga discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva as nirguṇa (beyond prakṛti’s guṇas), implying the Liṅga is not a mere form but a sacred indicator of the transcendent Pati whom worship gradually reveals to the paśu.

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

Even through criticism, Śiva is inadvertently affirmed as devadeva and nirguṇa—establishing Śiva-tattva as supreme, untouched by guṇas and therefore not truly affected by praise or blame.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway supports Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: move from debate and dualistic judgment toward yogic discernment of the Pati as nirguṇa, using Liṅga-pūjā as a stabilizing sādhanā.