Shloka 1

श्वेतमुनिना कालस्य निग्रहः (मृत्युञ्जय-भक्ति-प्रसादः)

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे एकोनत्रिंशो ऽध्यायः शैलादिरुवाच एवमुक्तास्तदा तेन ब्रह्मणा ब्राह्मणर्षभाः श्वेतस्य च कथां पुण्याम् अपृच्छन् परमर्षयः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge ekonatriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ śailādiruvāca evamuktāstadā tena brahmaṇā brāhmaṇarṣabhāḥ śvetasya ca kathāṃ puṇyām apṛcchan paramarṣayaḥ

Translation

如是，在《圣林伽大往世书》前分中，下一章由此开启。舍罗阿底说道：当梵天如此开示诸位最胜婆罗门圣贤之后，诸大牟尼便请问关于“白者（Śveta）”的清净圣传。

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the venerable Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrvabhāge: in the first section (Pūrvabhāga)

• ekonatriṃśaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the twenty-ninth chapter (as a colophon marker)

• śailādiḥ uvāca: Śailādi said

• evam: thus

• uktāḥ: having been spoken to/addressed

• tadā: then

• tena brahmaṇā: by that Brahmā

• brāhmaṇa-ṛṣabhāḥ: the best among brāhmaṇa sages

• śvetasya: of Śveta

• ca: and

• kathām: story, account

• puṇyām: meritorious, sacred

• apṛcchan: asked, inquired

• parama-ṛṣayaḥ: the highest sages.

Speaker

Śailādi

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śveta
• Brāhmaṇa-ṛṣis (sages)

FAQs

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

It functions as a narrative gateway: the sages’ request for Śveta’s sacred account signals an upcoming teaching where devotion to Śiva as Pati (Lord) is framed as purifying and merit-bestowing—typical of Liṅga Purāṇa kathās that culminate in liṅga-bhakti and its fruits.

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

Indirectly: by placing a “puṇya-kathā” sought by paramarṣis after Brahmā’s instruction, the text implies Śiva-tattva as the highest salvific principle—Pati—worthy of inquiry even for the creator, and accessible through sacred narration that loosens pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is described in this verse; it introduces a teaching sequence. In the Liṅga Purāṇa’s Purva-Bhāga, such inquiries commonly lead into liṅga-pūjā principles and Pāśupata-oriented devotion (bhakti) as the practical means for the paśu to turn toward Pati.