Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168

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

Devanagari script

अबुद्धिपूर्वकाः सर्गाः प्राकृतास्तु त्रयः स्मृताः बुद्धिपूर्वं प्रवर्तन्ते षट् पुनर्ब्रह्मणस्तु ते

Transliteration

abuddhipūrvakāḥ sargāḥ prākṛtāstu trayaḥ smṛtāḥ buddhipūrvaṃ pravartante ṣaṭ punarbrahmaṇastu te

Translation

有三种创造被忆念为“prākṛta”，在“buddhi”（智性）未先显现之时自然而起。然另有六种创造以智性为先导而展开——此等实为梵天（Brahmā）之创造；梵天作为宇宙造作主，在赐能令显现的主宰（Pati）之统摄下行其职。

Word by Word

• abuddhi-pūrvakāḥ: preceded by non-intellect/without buddhi manifest

• sargāḥ: creations/emanations

• prākṛtāḥ: primordial, of Prakṛti (Nature)

• tu: indeed/but

• trayaḥ: three

• smṛtāḥ: are remembered/declared

• buddhi-pūrvam: with buddhi (intellect) as the prior principle

• pravartante: proceed/come into operation

• ṣaṭ: six

• punaḥ: further/again

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā (the creator)

• tu: indeed

• te: those

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

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

By distinguishing prākṛta (nature-driven) creation from buddhi-led (ordered) creation, the verse supports Linga worship as aligning the devotee’s buddhi toward Pati (Śiva), the transcendent source who regulates manifestation beyond Prakṛti.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as Pati—the empowering, governing consciousness behind Brahmā’s intellect-led creation—showing that even cosmic intellect (buddhi) functions through the Lord’s lordship, not independently.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: refine buddhi through mantra, dhyāna, and Linga-upāsanā so the pashu (soul) disentangles from prakṛti-driven impulses (pāśa) and turns toward Pati.