Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

अग्नित्रय-पितृवंश-रुद्रसृष्टि-वैराग्योपदेशः

Devanagari script

शंकरश्चाप्रयत्नेन तदात्मा योगविद्यया वैराग्यस्थं विरक्तस्य विमुक्तिर्यच्छमुच्यते

Transliteration

śaṃkaraścāprayatnena tadātmā yogavidyayā vairāgyasthaṃ viraktasya vimuktiryacchamucyate

Translation

商羯罗自身——其本性即彼至上实相——以瑜伽之智，使安住离欲（vairāgya）、已离执著者不费力而得解脱；此自由被宣说为至上的吉祥寂静。

Word by Word

• शंकरः: Shankara (Lord Shiva)

• च: and

• अप्रयत्नेन: without strenuous effort/without strain

• तदात्मा: whose essence is That (the Supreme)

• योगविद्यया: by the science/knowledge of Yoga

• वैराग्यस्थम्: one established in dispassion

• विरक्तस्य: of the detached (pashu turning away from pasha)

• विमुक्तिः: liberation/release

• यत्: which

• शम्: peace/auspicious tranquility

• उच्यते: is said/declared

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching tradition of Shaiva Yoga to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-centered Shaiva practice as a Yoga-vidya rooted in vairagya: when the pashu becomes detached from pasha, Shiva (Pati) bestows vimukti as the fruit of worship and inner discipline.

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

Shiva is presented as “tadātmā”—of the essence of the Supreme—who is both the source of Yoga-knowledge and the direct giver of liberation, culminating in śam (supreme peace).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pashupata-oriented Yoga-vidya culminating in vairagya (dispassion): inner detachment and steady establishment in renunciation are emphasized as the condition for Shiva’s grace-bestowed release.