Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 173

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

Devanagari script

जनार्दनो ऽपि भगवान् नमस्कृत्य महेश्वरम् कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा प्राह सांबं त्रियंबकम्

Transliteration

janārdano 'pi bhagavān namaskṛtya maheśvaram kṛtāñjalipuṭo bhūtvā prāha sāṃbaṃ triyaṃbakam

Translation

就连吉祥的阇那尔达那（毗湿奴）也向大自在天（Maheśvara）顶礼；合掌恭敬，向三眼之主——与圣力（Śakti）合一的湿婆（Sāmbā）启言。

Word by Word

• जनार्दनः (janārdanaḥ): Janardana (Vishnu)

• अपि (api): even/also

• भगवान् (bhagavān): the Blessed Lord

• नमस्कृत्य (namaskṛtya): having bowed/saluted

• महेश्वरम् (maheśvaram): Maheshvara (the Great Lord, Shiva)

• कृताञ्जलिपुटः (kṛtāñjalipuṭaḥ): with hands joined in añjali (reverential gesture)

• भूत्वा (bhūtvā): having become/assuming (that posture)

• प्राह (prāha): said/spoke

• सांबम् (sāmbam): Sāmba—Shiva together with Ambā (Shakti/Parvati)

• त्रियंबकम् (triyaṃbakam): the Three-eyed One (Shiva).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; internal action attributed to Vishnu/Janardana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It models the fundamental posture of Linga-bhakti: namaskāra and añjali before Pati (Maheshvara). Even Viṣṇu exemplifies reverent submission to Shiva, reinforcing that liberation-oriented worship begins with humility and recognition of the Lord as the supreme refuge.

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

Shiva is invoked as Maheśvara and Triyambaka—sovereign and all-seeing—while “Sāmbā” signals Shiva inseparable from Śakti. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, Pati is never devoid of His power (Śakti), through whom He reveals grace (anugraha) to free the paśu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights external puja-vidhi markers—namaskāra and kṛtāñjali (añjali-mudrā)—which correspond to inner discipline: ego-surrender and one-pointed devotion, foundational to Pāśupata-oriented worship and mantra-centered approach to Mahādeva.