Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान्यथाकामं बान्धवैः पश्य वत्स मे /* उपमन्यो महाभाग तवांबैषा हि पार्वती

Transliteration

bhuṅkṣva bhogānyathākāmaṃ bāndhavaiḥ paśya vatsa me /* upamanyo mahābhāga tavāṃbaiṣā hi pārvatī

Translation

“孩子啊，随你所愿享受正当的福乐，并与亲族一同观照。噢，福德深厚的优波摩纽——此人确是你的母亲：帕尔瓦蒂。”

Word by Word

• भुङ्क्ष्व (bhuṅkṣva): enjoy/partake

• भोगान् (bhogān): enjoyments, experiences of life

• यथा-कामम् (yathā-kāmam): as desired, according to one’s will

• बान्धवैः (bāndhavaiḥ): with relatives/kinsmen

• पश्य (paśya): behold, see

• वत्स (vatsa): dear child

• मे (me): my

• उपमन्यो (upamanyo): O Upamanyu

• महाभाग (mahābhāga): greatly fortunate, noble

• तव (tava): your

• अम्बा (ambā): mother

• एषा (eṣā): this (she)

• हि (hi): indeed

• पार्वती (pārvatī): Goddess Pārvatī

Speaker

Shiva (Mahadeva), addressing Upamanyu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Upamanyu

FAQs

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

It presents the fruit of Shiva’s anugraha: the devotee is permitted to live in the world without bondage, enjoying lawful bhoga while remaining under the protection of Pati (Shiva) and Shakti (Parvati), culminating in darshana rather than mere ritual merit.

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

Shiva appears as compassionate Pati who grants both worldly well-being and spiritual recognition, revealing Shakti as the Divine Mother—showing Shiva-tattva as inseparable from Shakti and as the giver of grace that loosens pasha (bondage) for the pashu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implies the culmination of bhakti and Pashupata-oriented discipline: steadfast devotion and worship ripen into direct darshana of Shiva-Shakti, after which one may engage the senses without falling into pasha, guided by divine recognition.