Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Adhyaya 33: Pashupata Conduct, Bhasma-Vrata, and Shiva’s Boon to the Sages

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे द्वात्रिंशो ऽध्यायः नन्द्युवाच ततस्तुतोष भगवान् अनुगृह्य महेश्वरः स्तुतिं श्रुत्वा स्तुतस्तेषाम् इदं वचनमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge dvātriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ nandyuvāca tatastutoṣa bhagavān anugṛhya maheśvaraḥ stutiṃ śrutvā stutasteṣām idaṃ vacanamabravīt

Translation

至此，《圣林伽大往世书》（前分）第三十二章圆满。难提说：随后，慈悯信众的薄伽梵摩诃伊湿伐罗心生欢喜。听闻他们的赞颂并受其称扬后，主宣说如下言辞——以其为“主宰”(Pati)之权能，赐恩于诸“被系者”(paśu)。

Word by Word

• iti: thus

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

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• dvātriṃśaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the thirty-second chapter

• nandyuvāca: Nandī said

• tataḥ: then

• tutoṣa: became pleased

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• anugṛhya: having shown grace / having favored

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheśvara (Great Lord Śiva)

• stutim: hymn of praise

• śrutvā: having heard

• stutaḥ: praised

• teṣām: by them / of them

• idam: this

• vacanam: statement, speech

• abravīt: spoke

Speaker

Nandi

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheshvara)
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It marks the transition from praise (stuti) to Shiva’s response, highlighting a core Shaiva principle: sincere glorification of Pati (Śiva) draws anugraha, which is the true fruit behind Liṅga-upāsanā.

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

Shiva is shown as Bhagavān Maheśvara who hears, is pleased, and grants grace—indicating His sovereignty (Pati-hood) and His compassionate freedom to loosen pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Stuti (hymnic praise) as a limb of worship and devotion; it supports Pāśupata-oriented practice by preparing the aspirant for the descent of anugraha, which culminates in inner purification and steadiness in Śiva-bhāva.