Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 176

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

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच तयोः श्रुत्वा महादेवो विज्ञप्तिं परमेश्वरः सारथ्ये वाहनत्वे च कल्पयामास वै भवः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca tayoḥ śrutvā mahādevo vijñaptiṃ parameśvaraḥ sārathye vāhanatve ca kalpayāmāsa vai bhavaḥ

Translation

苏多说道：听闻他们的祈请后，摩诃提婆——至上主——婆伐确然允诺，愿担任御者与负载坐骑之职。

Word by Word

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• तयोः: of the two (of them)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Great God)

• विज्ञप्तिम्: request, petition

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord

• सारथ्ये: in the office of charioteer

• वाहनत्वे: in the state/role of being a vehicle (mount-bearer)

• च: and

• कल्पयामास: arranged, resolved, consented to undertake

• वै: indeed

• भवः: Bhava (an epithet of Śiva)

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva
• Parameshvara
• Bhava

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s supreme yet accessible nature: the same Parameśvara worshipped as the Liṅga willingly takes supportive roles, teaching that Liṅga-pūjā is grounded in humility, devotion, and receiving Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

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

Śiva is called Parameśvara and Bhava, indicating transcendence (Pati, the Lord of all) alongside immanence—He freely adopts roles within the world without losing sovereignty, a key Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis on divine freedom (svātantrya) and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse primarily underscores bhakti and śaraṇāgati (surrender): when pashus approach Pati with a sincere petition, Śiva responds with grace—an inner principle supporting Pāśupata-oriented discipline and devotion-centered worship.