Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

उपमन्युमुवाच सस्मितो भगवान्बन्धुजनैः समावृतम् गिरिजाम् अवलोक्य सस्मितां सघृणं प्रेक्ष्यतु तं तदा घृणी

Transliteration

upamanyumuvāca sasmito bhagavānbandhujanaiḥ samāvṛtam girijām avalokya sasmitāṃ saghṛṇaṃ prekṣyatu taṃ tadā ghṛṇī

Translation

优波摩纽说：当时慈悲的主含笑，望见吉利迦（帕尔瓦蒂）被亲族环绕；见她亦含笑，便以柔和怜悯之心注视她——那位充满悲悯的主。

Word by Word

• उपमन्युः: Upamanyu

• उवाच: said

• सस्मितः: smiling

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord (Pati, Śiva)

• बन्धुजनैः: by kinsfolk/relatives

• समावृताम्: surrounded

• गिरिजाम्: Girijā (Pārvatī)

• अवलोक्य: having looked upon

• सस्मिताम्: smiling

• सघृणम्: with compassion/tenderness

• प्रेक्ष्यतु: looked/observed (sense: to gaze upon)

• तम्: her/that (object of regard)

• तदा: then

• घृणी: the compassionate one (epithet of the Lord).

Speaker

Upamanyu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati (Girija)

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva (Pati) as ghṛṇī—compassion itself—implying that Linga-pūjā is not mere rite but a way for the paśu (soul) to receive grace that loosens pāśa (bondage).

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as both sovereign and tender: the Lord remains transcendent yet turns toward Śakti (Girijā) with a gracious, compassionate gaze—an indicator of anugraha (bestowing liberation).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific vidhi is stated; the implied practice is bhakti-yukta darśana—contemplative remembrance of Śiva’s karuṇā, foundational to Pāśupata orientation where grace initiates release from pāśa.