Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

ययातिना पूरौ राज्याभिषेकः, दिक्प्रदानं, तृष्णा-वैराग्योपदेशः, वनप्रवेशः च

Devanagari script

चक्षुःश्रोत्रे च जीर्येते तृष्णैका निरुपद्रवा जीर्यन्ति देहिनः सर्वे स्वभावादेव नान्यथा

Transliteration

cakṣuḥśrotre ca jīryete tṛṣṇaikā nirupadravā jīryanti dehinaḥ sarve svabhāvādeva nānyathā

Translation

眼与耳亦会衰老；唯有渴爱（tṛṣṇā）似乎不疲不扰。凡有身之众生（paśu）皆依自性必然老去——别无他途。

Word by Word

• cakṣuḥ: the eye

• śrotre: the ear (hearing)

• ca: and

• jīryete: grow old/decay

• tṛṣṇā: thirst, craving

• ekā: alone

• nirupadravā: without affliction/undisturbed

• jīryanti: age, wear away

• dehinaḥ: embodied beings

• sarve: all

• svabhāvāt: from intrinsic nature

• eva: indeed

• na anyathā: not otherwise

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It turns the devotee inward: while the body and senses inevitably decay, craving persists; therefore Linga-pūjā should be joined with vairāgya and restraint so the paśu seeks refuge in Pati (Śiva) rather than in sense-objects.

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

By implication, Śiva-tattva is the transcendent Pati who is not subject to jarā (aging). The verse contrasts perishing embodiment with the need to orient consciousness toward the deathless Lord who alone can sever pāśa (bondage) like tṛṣṇā.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pāśupata-oriented vairāgya: sense-withdrawal and vigilance toward tṛṣṇā during japa, dhyāna, and Linga-arcana—treating craving as a key pāśa to be weakened through disciplined worship and contemplation.