Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

ध्यानयोगेन रुद्रदर्शनम् — रुद्रावतार-परिवर्तक्रमः, लकुली (कायावतार), पाशुपतयोगः, लिङ्गार्चन-निष्ठा

Devanagari script

विकोशश् च विकेशश् च विपाशः शापनाशनः ते ऽपि तेनैव मार्गेण योगोक्तेन महौजसः

Transliteration

vikośaś ca vikeśaś ca vipāśaḥ śāpanāśanaḥ te 'pi tenaiva mārgeṇa yogoktena mahaujasaḥ

Translation

祂名为“毗拘舍”(Vikośa)与“毗拘舍”(Vikeśa)；祂亦为“毗帕舍”(Vipāśa)，超越系缚者；又为“沙帕那舍那”(Śāpanāśana)，摧灭诅咒者。那些大威力者亦循同一路径——由瑜伽所宣示——趋向大光明之主。

Word by Word

• विकोशः: Vikośa (an epithet of Shiva, the Unfolded/Uncontracted One)

• च: and

• विकेशः: Vikeśa (an epithet of Shiva, the Lord beyond ordinary hair/attributes—signifying transcendence)

• च: and

• विपाशः: Vipāśa (free from pāśa—bondage)

• शापनाशनः: destroyer of śāpa (curses) / remover of maledictions

• ते: they

• अपि: also

• तेन एव: by that very

• मार्गेण: path/way

• योगोक्तेन: declared/expounded by Yoga (yogic instruction)

• महौजसः: of the Great-Energy/Great-Effulgent One (Mahādeva).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; Sahasranama-style epithets within the Linga Purana narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva, worshipped as the Linga (Pati), as the remover of pāśa (bondage) and śāpa (curses), implying that Linga-upāsanā is not merely devotional but a liberating, yogic means aligned with Pāśupata discipline.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as transcendent and liberative: Vipāśa indicates the Lord who is untouched by bonds and who frees the bound pashu; Śāpanāśana highlights His sovereign grace that neutralizes karmic and verbal afflictions like curses.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to the ‘yogokta mārga’—the path taught through Yoga—suggesting Pāśupata-style sādhanā (discipline, inner absorption, and Lord-centered practice) as the method by which even powerful beings proceed toward Shiva’s liberating realization.