Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 154

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

Devanagari script

निरीक्षणादेव विभो ऽसि दग्धुं पुरत्रयं चैव जगत्त्रयं च लीलालसेनांबिकया क्षणेन दग्धं किलेषुश् च तदाथ मुक्तः

Transliteration

nirīkṣaṇādeva vibho 'si dagdhuṃ puratrayaṃ caiva jagattrayaṃ ca līlālasenāṃbikayā kṣaṇena dagdhaṃ kileṣuś ca tadātha muktaḥ

Translation

噢遍一切的主，仅凭您一瞥，便能焚烧三城（特里普拉）乃至三界。确然，在刹那间，欢悦于戏（līlā）的安比迦焚尽了那支箭；随后它才被放出。

Word by Word

• nirīkṣaṇāt: by (mere) seeing/by the glance

• eva: indeed/alone

• vibho: O all-pervading Lord

• asi: you are

• dagdhum: to burn

• pura-trayam: the three cities (Tripura)

• ca eva: and also

• jagat-trayam: the three worlds

• ca: and

• līlā-lasena: delighting in play (līlā), playfully

• ambikayā: by Ambikā (Pārvatī/Śakti)

• kṣaṇena: in an instant

• dagdham: burned

• kila: indeed/it is said

• iṣuḥ: the arrow

• ca: and

• tadā: then

• atha: thereafter

• muktaḥ: released/let go

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Tripura-dahana episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ambika
• Parvati
• Tripura
• Jagat-traya

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati—the absolute sovereign whose mere awareness (glance) accomplishes cosmic acts—supporting Linga worship as adoration of the transcendent power that dissolves bondage (pāśa) and protects the worlds.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as effortless, immediate sovereignty: without external instruments, Shiva can dissolve Tripura and even the three worlds, indicating supreme icchā and jñāna beyond limited action.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key takeaway is contemplative upāsanā on Shiva’s dṛṣṭi (divine glance): in Pāśupata-oriented practice, meditating on Pati’s effortless power strengthens vairāgya and loosens pāśa (bondage) for the pashu (individual soul).