Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 167

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

स्थावराणां पतिश्चैव नियतेन्द्रियवर्तनः सिद्धार्थः सर्वभूतार्थो ऽचिन्त्यः सत्यः शुचिव्रतः

Transliteration

sthāvarāṇāṃ patiścaiva niyatendriyavartanaḥ siddhārthaḥ sarvabhūtārtho 'cintyaḥ satyaḥ śucivrataḥ

Translation

祂是诸不动众生之主（Pati），其行持由完全调御的诸根所统摄。祂之所愿恒得成就，是一切众生的内在义趣与真实归向；不可思议，常住真实，坚守清净誓戒。

Word by Word

• स्थावराणाम्: of immovable beings

• पतिः: Lord, master (Pati)

• च एव: and indeed

• नियत-इन्द्रिय-वर्तनः: one whose conduct/movement is with controlled senses

• सिद्ध-अर्थः: whose aim is accomplished, ever-fulfilled in purpose

• सर्व-भूत-अर्थः: the meaning/goal of all beings, the one for whose sake all beings exist

• अचिन्त्यः: inconceivable, beyond mind

• सत्यः: true, truthful, Reality

• शुचि-व्रतः: one of pure vows, pure observances

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Sahasranama within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord over all existence—so Linga worship is directed to the transcendent ruler and inner purpose of all beings, not merely a local deity.

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

Shiva is presented as acintya (beyond thought), satya (Reality itself), and sarvabhūtārtha (the ultimate meaning/aim of all beings), aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s Pati as the highest tattva who liberates the pashu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Niyatendriyavartana and śucivrata point to Pashupata-style discipline: sense-restraint, purity, and vow-based observance as the inner foundation of Shiva-bhakti and Linga-puja.