Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

ब्रह्मकृत-ईशानस्तवः तथा विश्वरूपदेवी-प्रकृतिरहस्योपदेशः

Devanagari script

बलप्रमथनायैव बलिने ब्रह्मरूपिणे सर्वभूतेश्वरेशाय भूतानां दमनाय च

Transliteration

balapramathanāyaiva baline brahmarūpiṇe sarvabhūteśvareśāya bhūtānāṃ damanāya ca

Translation

顶礼于彼——摧破权势之傲慢者；顶礼于大力者——其体即梵(Brahman)之相。顶礼于一切众生之至上主——为秩序与安乐而制御、调伏诸“帕舒”(pashu，众生群类)者。

Word by Word

• बला (balā): power/strength

• प्रमथनाय (pramathanāya): for crushing/subduing

• एव (eva): indeed

• बलिने (baline): to the mighty one

• ब्रह्मरूपिणे (brahmarūpiṇe): to Him whose form is Brahman/the Absolute

• सर्वभूतेश्वर-ईशाय (sarvabhūteśvara-īśāya): to the Lord, the ruler of all beings

• भूतानाम् (bhūtānām): of beings/creatures

• दमनाय (damanāya): for restraint/discipline/subjugation

• च (ca): and.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a stuti within the Purva-Bhaga context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva as the supreme Pati—both transcendent (Brahman-formed) and immanent (Lord of all beings)—so Linga-puja is not merely for worldly power, but for purification and the restraint of ego and bondage.

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

Shiva is described as balin (all-powerful) yet brahmarūpin (the Absolute itself), indicating Shaiva Siddhanta’s vision of the Lord as the supreme consciousness who governs all beings while remaining beyond all limiting forms.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key yogic principle is dama (restraint/discipline): Shiva’s ‘damanāya’ points to Pashupata-oriented self-control that subdues the tyranny of ego and stabilizes the pashu for liberation.