Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Adhyaya 22 — शिवानुग्रहः, ब्रह्मतपः, एकादशरुद्राः तथा प्राणतत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

रोदनात्खलु रुद्रत्वं तेषु वै समजायत ये रुद्रास्ते खलु प्राणा ये प्राणास्ते तदात्मकाः

Transliteration

rodanātkhalu rudratvaṃ teṣu vai samajāyata ye rudrāste khalu prāṇā ye prāṇāste tadātmakāḥ

Translation

确实，由于他们的哭泣（rodana），在他们之中生起了“为鲁陀罗”的状态。所谓鲁陀罗，实即诸生命之气（prāṇa）；而这些普拉那，正具彼之自性——鲁陀罗自身的精髓。

Word by Word

• रोदनात् (rodanāt): from crying/crying out

• खलु (khalu): indeed, surely

• रुद्रत्वम् (rudratvam): Rudra-hood, the state of being Rudra

• तेषु (teṣu): in them

• वै (vai): verily

• समजायत (samajāyata): arose, came into being

• ये (ye): those who

• रुद्राः (rudrāḥ): Rudras

• ते (te): they

• खलु (khalu): indeed

• प्राणाः (prāṇāḥ): vital breaths, life-forces

• ये (ye): those who

• प्राणाः (prāṇāḥ): prāṇas

• ते (te): they

• तदात्मकाः (tad-ātmakāḥ): of that essence, having that as their very self (i.e., Rudra-nature).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga account to the sages, reporting the doctrinal identification of Rudras with prana)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Prana
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga worship in inner realization: Rudra is not only an external deity but the very prāṇa within the pashu (individual soul), making worship a movement from outer symbol to inner Pati-presence.

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

It identifies Rudra-hood with the life-force itself—Shiva as the indwelling principle that animates beings; prāṇa is treated as Rudra’s manifestation, pointing to Shiva-tattva as immanent while remaining the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāṇa-sādhana is implied: regulating and contemplating the prāṇas as Rudra supports Pāśupata-oriented yoga, where breath-awareness becomes a means to loosen pāśa (bondage) and turn the pashu toward Pati.