Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

यस् त्वेतान् पूजयेन् नित्यं स पूजयति शङ्करम् एवमेष महादेवो लोकानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

yas tvetān pūjayen nityaṃ sa pūjayati śaṅkaram evameṣa mahādevo lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

然而，若有人恒常礼敬他们，便是真正礼敬商羯罗（Śaṅkara）。大天为诸世界之利益而宣示此理：以正当的供奉，兽魂（paśu，被缚之灵）得以趋至主宰（Pati）。

Word by Word

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• तु (tu): indeed/but

• एतान् (etān): these (objects/forms/means of worship spoken of)

• पूजयेत् (pūjayet): should worship

• नित्यम् (nityam): always/regularly

• सः (saḥ): he

• पूजयति (pūjayati): worships

• शङ्करम् (śaṅkaram): Śaṅkara, the beneficent Lord Śiva

• एवम् (evam): thus/in this manner

• एषः (eṣaḥ): this (teaching/way)

• महादेवः (mahādevaḥ): Mahādeva

• लोकानाम् (lokānām): of the worlds/people

• हितकाम्यया (hitakāmyayā): with the desire for their welfare

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purana-teaching to the sages; conveying Mahadeva’s intent)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Mahadeva

FAQs

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

It equates consistent worship of the prescribed objects/forms of devotion with direct worship of Śaṅkara, affirming that disciplined nitya-puja is not symbolic only but truly reaches Shiva.

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

Shiva is presented as Mahādeva who acts from hitakāmyā—compassionate intent for the world—revealing an accessible path where the pati responds to sincere, regular worship by the paśu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nitya-puja (daily, steady worship) is emphasized; in Shaiva terms it functions as a devotional discipline that purifies the paśu and loosens pāśa (bondage), aligning with the spirit of Pāśupata-oriented practice.