Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

वंशानुवर्णनम् — सात्वतवंशः, स्यमन्तक-प्रसङ्गः, कृष्णावतारः, शिवप्रसादः (पाशुपतयोगः)

Devanagari script

गुणान्देवावृधस्याथ कीर्तयन्तो महात्मनः यथैव शृणुमो दूरात् संपश्यामस्तथान्तिकात्

Transliteration

guṇāndevāvṛdhasyātha kīrtayanto mahātmanaḥ yathaiva śṛṇumo dūrāt saṃpaśyāmastathāntikāt

Translation

于是诸天赞颂那位可敬的大灵者的德行，说道：“我们从远方听闻他如何，如今便在近前亲见其真容。”

Word by Word

• गुणान् (guṇān): virtues, divine qualities

• देवाः (devāḥ): the gods

• वृद्धस्य (vṛdhasya): of the venerable/ancient one

• अथ (atha): then

• कीर्तयन्तः (kīrtayantaḥ): praising, glorifying

• महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ): of the great-souled one (Mahātmā)

• यथा एव (yathā eva): just as

• शृणुमः (śṛṇumaḥ): we hear

• दूरात् (dūrāt): from afar

• संपश्यामः (saṃpaśyāmaḥ): we see, behold

• तथा (tathā): so, likewise

• अन्तिकात् (antikāt): from near, at close range

Speaker

Devas (within Suta’s narration)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames kīrtana (praise) and śravaṇa (hearing) as preparatory limbs that culminate in sākṣāt-darśana—an experience central to Linga devotion, where the devotee moves from indirect knowledge to direct presence of Pati (Shiva).

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

Shiva is presented as the venerable Mahātmā whose guṇas are celebrated yet who also becomes directly knowable through grace—indicating Shiva-tattva as both transcendent (known ‘from afar’) and immanent (seen ‘near’).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Stuti-kīrtana and śravaṇa are highlighted as practical disciplines; in a Shaiva-Siddhanta lens, they help loosen pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul) and dispose the seeker toward Shiva’s anugraha (revealing grace).