Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

भुवनकोशस्वभाववर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीप-पर्वत-लोकविन्यासः तथा यक्ष-उमा-प्रकाशः

Devanagari script

अधः सप्ततलानां तु नरकाणां हि कोटयः मायान्ताश्चैव घोराद्या अष्टाविंशतिरेव तु

Transliteration

adhaḥ saptatalānāṃ tu narakāṇāṃ hi koṭayaḥ māyāntāścaiva ghorādyā aṣṭāviṃśatireva tu

Translation

在七重下界（Saptatala）之下，有不可胜数的千万拘胝地狱（naraka）。其中有二十八种可怖分狱——自Ghora起，至Māyānta终——被缚之灵（paśu）在宇宙法则之统摄下承受业果。

Word by Word

• अधः: below

• सप्ततलानाम्: of the seven netherworlds (Saptatala)

• तु: indeed

• नरकाणाम्: of the hells (narakas)

• हि: surely/indeed

• कोटयः: crores, countless millions

• मायान्ताः: (those) ending with Māyānta / named Māyānta as the last

• च एव: and also

• घोराद्याः: beginning with Ghora

• अष्टाविंशतिः: twenty-eight

• एव: only/precisely

• तु: indeed

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames naraka as a karmic consequence for the bound paśu; Linga-worship (Śiva-pūjā) is implied as a purifying Shaiva path that loosens pāśa (bondage) and redirects the soul toward Śiva (Pati) rather than repeated suffering.

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

By contrast: narakas belong to the realm of karmic regulation, while Shiva-tattva stands as Pati—transcendent to fear and punishment—yet capable of granting grace (anugraha) that frees the paśu from bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No single rite is named, but the teaching supports Pāśupata-oriented discipline—ethical restraint, purification, and Śiva-upāsanā—so the paśu is not driven into lower states by karma.