Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 126

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

धन्वन्तरिर्धूमकेतुः सूर्यो वैश्रवणस् तथा धाता विष्णुश् च शक्रश् च मित्रस्त्वष्टा धरो ध्रुवः

Transliteration

dhanvantarirdhūmaketuḥ sūryo vaiśravaṇas tathā dhātā viṣṇuś ca śakraś ca mitrastvaṣṭā dharo dhruvaḥ

Translation

祂是檀梵多利（Dhanvantari，天医）、烟幢（Dhūmaketu，如彗之征）、太阳，以及毗舍罗伐那（Vaiśravaṇa，俱毗罗）。祂是达塔（Dhātā，宇宙之支持者）、毗湿奴（Viṣṇu，遍入护持者）与释迦罗（Śakra，因陀罗）。祂是密多罗（Mitra，和合之主）、特瓦什特里（Tvaṣṭā，天工巧匠）、持世者（Dhara）与坚住者（Dhruva，不动之极）。

Word by Word

• धन्वन्तरिः: Dhanvantari, divine physician

• धूमकेतुः: comet/fiery portent, luminous banner

• सूर्यः: the Sun, illuminator

• वैश्रवणः: Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera), lord of wealth

• तथा: and also

• धाता: Dhātā, sustainer/ordainer

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu, the all-pervading preserver

• च: and

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra), lord of the Devas

• मित्रः: Mitra, principle of concord and friendship

• त्वष्टा: Tvaṣṭā, divine craftsman

• धरः: bearer/supporter

• ध्रुवः: Dhruva, the fixed one/pole-star principle.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva-namavali within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dhanvantari
• Surya
• Vaishravana (Kubera)
• Dhata
• Vishnu
• Shakra (Indra)
• Mitra
• Tvashtri
• Dhruva

FAQs

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

It supports Linga-upasana by teaching that the one Pati (Shiva) manifests as the powers worshipped as many deities—healing, illumination, wealth, stability—so the devotee centers all reverence in the Linga as the unified source.

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

It presents Shiva-tattva as sarvātmakatva (all-encompassing): the same Supreme Lord appears as Dhātā (sustainer), Viṣṇu (preserver), Śakra (sovereignty), and Dhruva (unshakable steadiness), indicating Pati as the inner controller of all functions.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A namajapa-and-dhyana practice: reciting these names while contemplating Shiva as the inner Sun (illumination) and Dhruva (steadfastness) aligns the pashu (soul) toward Pati, loosening pasha (bondage) through focused devotion.