Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

बलभद्रो ऽपि संत्यज्य नागो भूत्वा जगाम च महिष्यस्तस्य कृष्णस्य रुक्मिणीप्रमुखाः शुभाः

Transliteration

balabhadro 'pi saṃtyajya nāgo bhūtvā jagāma ca mahiṣyastasya kṛṣṇasya rukmiṇīpramukhāḥ śubhāḥ

Translation

连巴拉婆陀罗也舍弃其身，化为那伽（Nāga，灵蛇）而去。奎师那的诸位吉祥王后——以鲁克米妮（Rukmiṇī）为首——亦同样离开尘世。在湿婆派的观照中，此等离去标示当命定之形被舍时，pāśa（系缚）随之松解；唯有 Pati（主宰）恒为一切变迁之不动根基。

Word by Word

• बलभद्रः: Balabhadra (Balarama)

• अपि: also

• संत्यज्य: having abandoned (the body)

• नागः: a serpent

• भूत्वा: having become

• जगाम: went/departed

• च: and

• महिष्यः: queens/royal consorts

• तस्य: of that

• कृष्णस्य: of Krishna

• रुक्मिणी-प्रमुखाः: headed by Rukmiṇī

• शुभाः: auspicious, blessed

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Balabhadra
• Krishna
• Rukmini

FAQs

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

It highlights impermanence of embodied status—even exalted figures relinquish forms—supporting Linga worship as devotion to the changeless Pati (Śiva) beyond birth and death.

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

By implication, it contrasts changing forms (nāga-form, queens departing) with the Shaiva Siddhanta view that Śiva-tattva is the stable, unconditioned Lord (Pati) before whom all pashus undergo transformation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly underscores vairāgya (detachment) and deha-tyāga as a culmination; as a yogic takeaway, it aligns with Pāśupata discipline of non-attachment that weakens pāśa (bondage).