Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

एकार्णव-सृष्टिक्रमः, ब्रह्म-विष्णु-परस्परप्रवेशः, शिवस्य आगमनं च

Devanagari script

तमेवमुक्त्वा भगवान् विष्णुः पुनरथाब्रवीत् कस्त्वं खलु समायातः समीपं भगवान्कुतः

Transliteration

tamevamuktvā bhagavān viṣṇuḥ punarathābravīt kastvaṃ khalu samāyātaḥ samīpaṃ bhagavānkutaḥ

Translation

如是对他说后，世尊毗湿奴又复言曰：“汝究竟是谁，噢可敬者，竟近前而来？噢薄伽梵，汝从何处而至？”

Word by Word

• तम् (tam): to him

• एवम् (evam): thus

• उक्त्वा (uktvā): having spoken

• भगवान् (bhagavān): the Blessed Lord

• विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ): Vishnu

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

• अथ (atha): then

• अब्रवीत् (abravīt): said

• कः (kaḥ): who?

• त्वम् (tvam): you

• खलु (khalu): indeed

• समायातः (samāyātaḥ): has come/arrived

• समीपम् (samīpam): near/into proximity

• भगवान् (bhagavān): O venerable/divine one

• कुतः (kutaḥ): from where?

Speaker

Vishnu (within Suta’s narration to the sages)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse marks a pivotal moment of recognition and inquiry: even Viṣṇu addresses an approaching divine presence as “Bhagavān,” preparing the narrative ground where the supreme Pati (often revealed as Śiva in the Linga context) becomes the focus of reverence beyond sectarian assumption.

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

Indirectly: by showing Viṣṇu’s respectful questioning of an unidentified “Bhagavān,” it points to a transcendent Shiva-tattva that can appear beyond ordinary identification—known by signs of sovereignty and presence, and approached through discernment rather than assumption.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No explicit puja-vidhi is stated; the key takeaway is the yogic discipline of viveka (discriminative inquiry) and reverent approach to the Pati—an inner posture foundational to Pāśupata orientation before formal Linga-pūjā instructions unfold.