Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

भुवनकोशविन्यासनिर्णयः (ज्योतिर्गति-वृष्टिचक्र-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

पर्यपृच्छेत् पतङ्गो ऽपि सौम्याशां चोत्तरे ऽहनि मध्ये तु पुष्करस्याथ भ्रमते दक्षिणायने

Transliteration

paryapṛcchet pataṅgo 'pi saumyāśāṃ cottare 'hani madhye tu puṣkarasyātha bhramate dakṣiṇāyane

Translation

即便太阳（pataṅga）也仿佛在“探问寻求”：行于北道时，趋向温和的北方；而行于南道时，则说其绕普什迦罗之中而旋转。由是，宇宙之运转本身指向神圣的中心——在彼处，行者凭借圣地（tīrtha）与严谨的修持而亲近主宰帕提（湿婆）。

Word by Word

• पर्यपृच्छेत्: would inquire, would seek about

• पतङ्गः: the Sun (lit. ‘moving-winged’)

• अपि: even

• सौम्य-आशाम्: the gentle/northern direction

• च: and

• उत्तरे अहनि: on the northern course (uttarāyaṇa period)

• मध्ये: in the middle/center

• तु: but

• पुष्करस्य: of Puṣkara (the sacred tīrtha/region)

• अथ: then/indeed

• भ्रमते: moves about, revolves

• दक्षिणायने: in the southern course (dakṣiṇāyaṇa period)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Pushkara
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links cosmic rhythm (the Sun’s northern/southern course) with sacred geography, implying that Linga worship and tīrtha-observance are aligned with ṛta (cosmic order) to help the pashu approach Pati.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as the stabilizing sacred center: even planetary movement is portrayed as orienting toward a holy ‘middle,’ reflecting Pati as the inner axis around which the bound soul (pashu) can re-order itself.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Timing and orientation of vrata/pilgrimage: observing dharma with awareness of uttarāyaṇa/dakṣiṇāyaṇa and approaching a tīrtha as part of disciplined Pāśupata-style purification (reducing pāśa through niyama and sacred contact).