Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 141

Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः

Devanagari script

अभाग्यान्न समाप्तं तु कार्यमित्यपरे द्विजाः प्रोचुर्नमः शिवायेति पूज्य चाल्पतरं हृदि

Transliteration

abhāgyānna samāptaṃ tu kāryamityapare dvijāḥ procurnamaḥ śivāyeti pūjya cālpataraṃ hṛdi

Translation

另有诸婆罗门言：“因不幸，仪式未得圆满。”然而他们心中仍存一分敬信，依旧称念“南无湿婆耶（Namah Śivāya）”，并礼拜供奉——表明外行既失，内心向帕提的一点点虔敬亦能安定被缚之众生（pashu），使其不为缚索（pāśa）所摇。

Word by Word

• अभाग्यात्: due to misfortune/ill-luck

• न: not

• समाप्तम्: completed

• तु: indeed/but

• कार्यम्: the rite/duty/undertaking

• इति: thus

• अपरे: others

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins)

• प्रोचुः: said/declared

• नमः: obeisance

• शिवाय: to Śiva

• इति: thus

• पूज्य: having worshipped/after worshipping

• च: and

• अल्पतरम्: very little/small

• हृदि: in the heart

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the conduct/utterance of the dvijas within the story)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that even if external ritual activity is obstructed, sincere remembrance and the mantra “namaḥ śivāya” function as valid worship, preserving the devotee’s link to Pati (Śiva) and sustaining the puja’s spiritual intent.

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

Śiva is approached as Pati—the Lord who accepts even minimal, inner-hearted reverence. His grace is not limited by ritual completion but responds to authentic devotion and surrender.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nama-smarana (mantra remembrance) and manasika-puja (mental worship): when outer karma-kāṇḍa is incomplete, inner japa and heartfelt reverence become the stabilizing practice aligned with Shaiva sādhanā.