Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Adhyaya 44: Nandikesvara’s Manifestation and Abhisheka; The Rule of Namaskara in Shiva-Nama

Devanagari script

कस्याद्य व्यसनं घोरं करिष्यामस्तवाज्ञया कस्य वाद्योत्सवो देव सर्वकामसमृद्धये

Transliteration

kasyādya vyasanaṃ ghoraṃ kariṣyāmastavājñayā kasya vādyotsavo deva sarvakāmasamṛddhaye

Translation

奉汝圣命，天神啊，今日我们要将可怖的灾厄降于何人？又要为谁设下乐舞庆典，使其一切所愿皆得圆满？

Word by Word

• kasya: of whom/for whom

• adya: today

• vyasanam: calamity/misfortune/distress

• ghoram: dreadful/terrible

• kariṣyāmaḥ: we shall do/perform

• tava: your

• ājñayā: by command/according to the order

• kasya: of whom/for whom

• vādya-utsavaḥ: festival with instruments/music

• deva: O God/O Deva

• sarva-kāma: all desires/all aims

• samṛddhaye: for the prosperity/fulfilment/attainment

Speaker

Shiva’s Ganas (attendants), addressing Lord Shiva (contextual attribution within Suta’s narration)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s sovereign ājñā (command): auspiciousness (vādyotsava) and adversity (ghora-vyasana) both occur under the Pati’s governance, reminding the devotee that Linga-pūjā seeks alignment with Shiva’s will and grace (anugraha).

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as the supreme regulator who can bestow siddhi and prosperity or administer corrective suffering; as Pati, He directs forces that loosen pāśa (bondage) and guide the pashu (soul) toward right order and liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to vādyotsava—devotional musical celebration as an external limb of pūjā—supporting bhakti and śiva-smaraṇa; yogically, it implies disciplined acceptance of both nigraha and anugraha as part of Pāśupata-oriented surrender to the Lord’s command.