Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

ग्रहसंख्यावर्णनम् — ध्रुवस्य तपोबलात् ध्रुवस्थानप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

प्राङ्मुखो नियतो भूत्वा जजाप प्रीतमानसः शाकमूलफलाहारः संवत्सरमतन्द्रितः

Transliteration

prāṅmukho niyato bhūtvā jajāpa prītamānasaḥ śākamūlaphalāhāraḥ saṃvatsaramatandritaḥ

Translation

他面向东方，持戒自制，怀着充满奉爱（bhakti）的心行持诵念（japa）。仅以蔬菜、根茎与果实为食，整整一年不曾懈怠地修持——坚定地引导帕舒（pashu，个体灵魂）归向帕提（Pati），主宰湿婆（Śiva）。

Word by Word

• प्राङ्मुखः: facing east

• नियतः: restrained, regulated

• भूत्वा: having become

• जजाप: he repeated (mantra), performed japa

• प्रीतमानसः: with a pleased/devoted mind

• शाक: vegetables/greens

• मूल: roots

• फल: fruits

• आहारः: whose food/diet

• संवत्सरम्: for a year

• अतन्द्रितः: untiring, unnegligent, vigilant

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the inner prerequisites for fruitful Linga-upāsanā—niyama (discipline), continuous japa, and sāttvika austerity—so the worship becomes a transformative turning of the soul (pashu) toward Śiva (Pati), not merely an external rite.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as the supreme Pati who responds to sustained devotion and purity; the verse frames spiritual effort as a means to loosen pāśa (bondage) through focused japa and regulated living, preparing the aspirant for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vrata-like discipline combining east-facing mantra-japa, vigilance (atandrita), and a simple plant-based diet (śāka-mūla-phala), aligning with Pāśupata-oriented tapas and niyama as supports for Śiva-upāsanā.