Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 136

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

चतुःषष्ट्यात्मतत्त्वाय पुनरष्टविधाय ते गुणाष्टकवृतायैव गुणिने निर्गुणाय ते

Transliteration

catuḥṣaṣṭyātmatattvāya punaraṣṭavidhāya te guṇāṣṭakavṛtāyaiva guṇine nirguṇāya te

Translation

顶礼于汝：以六十四种真理位（tattva）而显现之实相；复顶礼于汝：以八重方式而示现者。顶礼于汝：为八种德性（guṇa）所覆者；顶礼于汝：为诸guṇa之主者；并顶礼于汝：超越一切guṇa之无相者——湿婆，解脱主Pati，使有情paśu脱离系缚pāśa。

Word by Word

• चतुःषष्टि (catuḥṣaṣṭi): sixty-four

• आत्मतत्त्वाय (ātma-tattvāya): to the Self-principle / to the reality of the Self

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

• अष्टविधाय (aṣṭa-vidhāya): to the eightfold form / eightfold manifestation

• ते (te): to You

• गुणाष्टक (guṇāṣṭaka): the eight guṇas

• वृताय (vṛtāya): enveloped, covered

• एव (eva): indeed

• गुणिने (guṇine): to the possessor/lord of qualities

• निर्गुणाय (nirguṇāya): to the quality-less, beyond attributes

• ते (te): to You

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva-stuti within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Liṅga as Shiva’s supreme reality: immanent in manifest principles (tattvas and guṇas) yet ultimately nirguṇa, guiding worship from outer form to inner realization.

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

Shiva is simultaneously the ground of multiple tattva-systems (sixty-four and eightfold), the master of qualities, and also guṇātīta—beyond all attributes—thus Pati who can cut the bonds (pāśa) of the soul (paśu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It implies Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: meditate on Shiva as both saguna (accessible through Liṅga-pūjā) and nirguṇa (realized through tattva-viveka and inner absorption).