Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Adhyaya 22 — शिवानुग्रहः, ब्रह्मतपः, एकादशरुद्राः तथा प्राणतत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

स्वस्त्यस्तु ते गमिष्यामि संज्ञा भवतु सुव्रत एवमुक्त्वा तु भगवांस् ततो ऽन्तर्धानमीश्वरः

Transliteration

svastyastu te gamiṣyāmi saṃjñā bhavatu suvrata evamuktvā tu bhagavāṃs tato 'ntardhānamīśvaraḥ

Translation

“愿吉祥与你同在。我将离去；愿此作为约定的记号，噢持善誓者。”言毕，圣尊主宰——自在天（Īśvara）——随即隐没不见。

Word by Word

• svasti: auspiciousness, well-being

• astu: may it be

• te: to you/for you

• gamiṣyāmi: I shall go/I will depart

• saṃjñā: sign, signal, agreed indication

• bhavatu: let it be

• su-vrata: one of good vow, steadfast in observance

• evam: thus

• uktvā: having spoken

• tu: indeed/then

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• tataḥ: thereafter

• antardhānam: disappearance, becoming invisible

• īśvaraḥ: the Lord (Śiva as Pati)

Speaker

Suta (narrating an episode in which Ishvara/Shiva speaks and then disappears)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishvara
• Bhagavan

FAQs

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

It highlights that Shiva (Pati) can withdraw from gross visibility while remaining truly present; in Linga worship this supports devotion to the formless-yet-accessible presence of Īśvara, approached through sign (saṃjñā) and sacred symbol.

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

Shiva is shown as sovereign (Īśvara) who blesses and then vanishes by his own power—indicating transcendence over form and sense-perception, while still guiding the pashu (soul) through instruction and agreed spiritual indications.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implies disciplined observance (suvrata) and attentiveness to the Lord’s “sign” (saṃjñā), a key yogic principle in Pāśupata-oriented practice: following the guru/Ishvara’s instruction even when the divine is not outwardly visible.