Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 148

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

युगरूपो महारूपो वहनो गहनो नगः न्यायो निर्वापणो ऽपादः पण्डितो ह्यचलोपमः

Transliteration

yugarūpo mahārūpo vahano gahano nagaḥ nyāyo nirvāpaṇo 'pādaḥ paṇḍito hyacalopamaḥ

Translation

祂以诸劫为形；形相广大而至上；负载并运持诸世界者；幽深难测；如山岳般不动而崇高。祂即正法与理则（Dharma、Nyāya）的原则；能熄灭并清凉系缚之火者；无足者——超越一切行止与局限；真实圣智者，坚住如不移之山。

Word by Word

• युगरूपः: whose form is the yugas/time-cycles

• महारूपः: of immense/supreme form

• वहनः: bearer/supporter (of the worlds)

• गहनः: unfathomable, profound

• नगः: mountain/immovable one

• न्यायः: justice, dharma, right order

• निर्वापणः: extinguisher, pacifier (of suffering/karma)

• अपादः: footless, not dependent on movement/limbs

• पण्डितः: wise, learned sage

• अचलोपमः: like the immovable mountain (unshakable).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the 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 presents the Linga’s Lord (Pati) as time itself (yuga), as the immovable support (naga/vaḥana), and as the pacifier of karmic burning (nirvāpaṇa), guiding the devotee to worship the Linga as the stable, all-supporting reality beyond change.

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

Shiva is portrayed as both immanent and transcendent: immanent as the order of time and justice (yugarūpa, nyāya), and transcendent as the unfathomable, limb-independent absolute (gahana, apāda), the steadfast Pati who liberates the pashu from pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pashupata-oriented contemplation: meditate on Shiva as the inner regulator (nyāya) and as the cooling extinguisher of bondage (nirvāpaṇa), stabilizing the mind like a mountain (acalopama) during japa and Linga-puja.