Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Adhyaya 61 — ग्रह-नक्षत्र-स्थाननिर्णयः

Cosmic Abodes of Luminaries and the Shaiva Order of Time

Devanagari script

नक्षत्राणि च सर्वाणि नक्षत्राणि विशन्ति च गृहाण्येतानि सर्वाणि ज्योतींषि सुकृतात्मनाम्

Transliteration

nakṣatrāṇi ca sarvāṇi nakṣatrāṇi viśanti ca gṛhāṇyetāni sarvāṇi jyotīṃṣi sukṛtātmanām

Translation

一切星宿与一切宿位皆被进入而成住处；这一切光明的天界球域，成为内在因福业而净炼之人的居所——即由正法与对主宰帕舒帕提（Paśupati）的奉爱（bhakti）而被提升的众生之魂（paśu）。

Word by Word

• नक्षत्राणि: lunar mansions/constellations

• च: and

• सर्वाणि: all

• नक्षत्राणि: the nakṣatras (stellar stations)

• विशन्ति: they enter/attain

• च: also

• गृहाणि: houses/dwellings/abodes

• एतानि: these

• सर्वाणि: all

• ज्योतींषि: luminous realms/lights (celestial spheres)

• सुकृतात्मनाम्: of those whose nature (ātman) is formed by good deeds/merit

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

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

It frames merit (sukṛta)—often generated through Shiva-oriented dharma such as Linga-puja, vrata, and dana—as a force that elevates the paśu (individual soul) to higher luminous realms, showing worship’s tangible fruit in the cosmic order.

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

Implicitly, Shiva-tattva is Paśupati—the Lord who governs the cosmic lights and their abodes—while the paśu ascends by loosening pasha (bondage) through sukṛta aligned with devotion and right conduct.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights karma-phala rooted in dharma; in a Shaiva reading, this points to Linga-puja and Shiva-bhakti as sukṛta-producing disciplines that prepare the soul for higher states, even before the final liberation taught in Pashupata-oriented paths.