Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 144

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

मुख्यसर्गं तथाभूतं दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा ह्यसाधकम् अप्रसन्नमनाः सो ऽथ ततो ऽन्यं सो ह्यमन्यत

Transliteration

mukhyasargaṃ tathābhūtaṃ dṛṣṭvā brahmā hyasādhakam aprasannamanāḥ so 'tha tato 'nyaṃ so hyamanyata

Translation

梵天见那初生之造化虽如是成就，却不能达其所用，内心不悦；因此他转念另起一途而行创造。

Word by Word

• मुख्यसर्गम्: the primary creation

• तथा-भूतम्: in that condition/just so

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā

• हि: indeed

• असाधकम्: unaccomplishing/ineffective (not fulfilling the aim)

• अप्रसन्न-मनाः: with an unsatisfied mind

• सः: he

• अथ: then

• ततः: from that/thereupon

• अन्यम्: another (means/creation)

• सः: he

• हि: indeed

• अमन्यत: considered/thought

Speaker

Suta (narrating Brahma’s action within the creation account)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It shows that creation is not merely mechanical; when it fails to serve its higher aim, Brahmā seeks a different means—implying that true fulfillment of srishti ultimately aligns with Pati (Shiva) and the conditions for the soul’s (pashu’s) uplift, which Linga worship later embodies.

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

Indirectly: the inadequacy of the ‘primary creation’ hints that without orientation to Pati (the supreme Lord, later revealed as Shiva), creation cannot become ‘sādhaka’—effective for removing pasha (bondage) and guiding pashus toward liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi is stated; the takeaway is preparatory—creation must be re-ordered so that disciplines like Pashupata Yoga and Shiva-upasana (centered on the Linga) can become possible and spiritually effective.