Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

लोककर्ता पशुपतिर् महाकर्ता ह्यधोक्षजः अक्षरं परमं ब्रह्म बलवाञ्छुक्त एव च

Transliteration

lokakartā paśupatir mahākartā hyadhokṣajaḥ akṣaraṃ paramaṃ brahma balavāñchukta eva ca

Translation

祂是诸世界的造作者；祂是兽主（Paśupati）——为诸“兽”（paśu，受缚之灵）之主宰（Pati）。祂是大作者，亦是阿多克沙阇（Adhokṣaja）——超越诸根所及。祂是不坏者（Akṣara），至上梵（Brahman）本身——威力具足，亦是真实而善说之圣言。

Word by Word

• लोककर्ता: maker of the worlds

• पशुपतिः: Paśupati, Lord of paśus (souls)

• महाकर्ता: the great doer/creator

• हि: indeed

• अधोक्षजः: transcendent, beyond sensory perception

• अक्षरम्: imperishable

• परमम्: supreme

• ब्रह्म: Brahman, absolute reality

• बलवान्: mighty, powerful

• शुक्तः: well-spoken/true utterance (authoritative word)

• एव: indeed

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shaiva eulogy within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies the Linga’s deity as Paśupati—the sovereign Lord of all souls—so Linga-pūjā is directed to the transcendent Pati who creates and governs the worlds and grants liberation from bondage.

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

Shiva is presented as Adhokṣaja (beyond sense and mind), Akṣara (imperishable), and Parama Brahman—indicating Shiva-tattva as the supreme, unconditioned reality who remains immanent as world-maker yet transcendent to all measures.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: meditate on Shiva as Paśupati and Adhokṣaja—turning the mind from sensory objects to the imperishable Pati, the liberator of the paśu from pāśa.