Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

नित्यो ह्यनीशः शुद्धात्मा शुद्धो मानो गतिर्हविः प्रासादस्तु बलो दर्पो दर्पणो हव्य इन्द्रजित्

Transliteration

nityo hyanīśaḥ śuddhātmā śuddho māno gatirhaviḥ prāsādastu balo darpo darpaṇo havya indrajit

Translation

祂恒常不变，永不受制约；祂是清净之我，亦是清净本身。祂为万有之尺度，至上归依，亦为神圣供献之哈维。祂是巍峨圣殿，是力量，乃至被称为“傲”的那种威能；祂是映照万象之镜，是堪受供养者，并是战胜如因陀罗般诸力者。

Word by Word

• नित्यः: eternal

• हि: indeed

• अनीशः: unruled/independent (not subject to any other lord)

• शुद्धात्मा: the Pure Self

• शुद्धः: pure/undefiled

• मानः: measure, standard, honor

• गतिः: refuge, goal, final resort

• हविः: oblation offered in yajña

• प्रासादः: temple, palace, lofty abode

• तु: and/indeed

• बलः: strength, power

• दर्पः: pride, haughtiness (also the power of self-assertion)

• दर्पणः: mirror, reflector

• हव्यः: worthy of being offered to (fit recipient of havis)

• इन्द्रजित्: conqueror of Indra (subduer of the lordly powers).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga-Lord as both transcendence (śuddhātmā, anīśa) and immanence in worship (haviḥ, havya, prāsāda), teaching that offerings and temple-forms are valid supports for realizing the formless Pati.

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

Shiva is presented as nitya (eternal) and śuddha (untainted), the independent Pati who is the gati (final refuge) of the bound pashu, and the darpaṇa (inner reflector) by which all experience is known without staining Him.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritually, it emphasizes yajña-language (haviḥ/havya) pointing to offering the self and actions to Shiva; yogically, “darpaṇa” suggests Pashupata-style inner purification where the mind becomes a clear mirror reflecting Shiva-consciousness.