Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

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

Devanagari script

मन्वाम नूनं भगवान्पिनाकी लीलार्थमेतत्सकलं प्रवर्त्तुम् व्यवस्थितश्चेति तथान्यथा चेद् आडम्बरेणास्य फलं किमन्यत्

Transliteration

manvāma nūnaṃ bhagavānpinākī līlārthametatsakalaṃ pravarttum vyavasthitaśceti tathānyathā ced āḍambareṇāsya phalaṃ kimanyat

Translation

我们确知：持毗那迦之圣主乃是为着利拉（līlā，神圣戏游）而有意令这一切运转。若非如此——若另有其因——这般仅是外相的铺陈，又能结出何等果报？

Word by Word

• मन्वाम (manvāma): we think / we understand

• नूनम् (nūnam): surely, indeed

• भगवान् (bhagavān): the Blessed Lord

• पिनाकी (pinākī): the bearer of the bow Pināka (Shiva)

• लीलार्थम् (līlārtham): for the purpose of divine play

• एतत् (etat): this

• सकलम् (sakalam): all, the entire (manifest process)

• प्रवर्त्तुम् (pravarttum): to set in motion, to cause to proceed

• व्यवस्थितः (vyavasthitaḥ): resolved, established, firmly intent

• च (ca): and

• इति (iti): thus

• तथा (tathā): so, in that way

• अन्यथा (anyathā): otherwise

• चेत् (cet): if

• आडम्बरेण (āḍambareṇa): by pomp, show, outward display

• अस्य (asya): of this

• फलम् (phalam): fruit, result

• किम् (kim): what?

• अन्यत् (anyat): other, else

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana; reflecting the conclusion of the interlocutors within the episode)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that mere external grandeur (āḍambara) is fruitless unless one recognizes Shiva (Pati) as the inner reality; true Linga worship is inward discernment joined to devotion, not spectacle.

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

Shiva is portrayed as Pinākin who intentionally initiates the whole manifest process as līlā—so the world is not random display but a purposeful unfolding under the Lord who can free the paśu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: move from outer show to inner realization—perform pūjā with jñāna and vairāgya, seeing the Linga as the sign of Pati beyond appearances.