Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 119

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

विशालशाखस् ताम्रोष्ठो ह्य् अम्बुजालः सुनिश्चितः कपिलः कलशः स्थूल आयुधश्चैव रोमशः

Transliteration

viśālaśākhas tāmroṣṭho hy ambujālaḥ suniścitaḥ kapilaḥ kalaśaḥ sthūla āyudhaścaiva romaśaḥ

Translation

祂枝干广大；唇色如铜；为莲华之网，牵引众生向上；意志坚固不动；色如卡毗罗之黄褐；祂自身即是圣瓶（Kalaśa）；形体雄伟；执持兵器；遍身毛发——此即主宰Pati，以其威力降伏缚索（pāśa），安定有情（paśu）。

Word by Word

• विशाल-शाखः: one with vast branches/expansive limbs

• ताम्र-ओष्ठः: copper-lipped, reddish-lipped

• हि: indeed

• अम्बु-जालः: lotus-net / water-born network (lotus imagery)

• सुनिश्चितः: firmly resolved, well-determined

• कपिलः: tawny, brownish, Kapila-like

• कलशः: pot, sacred vessel, consecration jar

• स्थूलः: massive, gross (in manifest aspect)

• आयुधः: weapon-bearing / having weapons

• च एव: and indeed

• रोमशः: hairy, covered with hair

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s names within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

By calling Shiva “kalaśa” (the sacred vessel), the verse links Him to abhiṣeka and consecration: the Linga is worshipped as the very container and source of sanctifying grace that purifies the pashu and loosens pasha.

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

It presents Shiva as both transcendent resolve (suniścitaḥ) and manifest power (sthūla, āyudha): the Pati who can appear with form and force while remaining the unwavering ground of liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Kalasha-abhiṣeka is implied through “kalaśa,” while “suniścitaḥ” points to niścaya (firm inner resolve) central to Pashupata discipline—steadiness of mind directed toward the Pati.