Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

भ्रमणं स्वेदजन्या सा संविन्मूर्छा भवेद्यदा तदोत्तमोत्तमः प्रोक्तः प्राणायामः सुशोभनः

Transliteration

bhramaṇaṃ svedajanyā sā saṃvinmūrchā bhavedyadā tadottamottamaḥ proktaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ suśobhanaḥ

Translation

当出现“觉知的昏厥”——并伴随由修习所生的眩晕与汗出——彼时此般调息（prāṇāyāma）被宣说为至上中的至上，因成就而光辉。

Word by Word

• भ्रमणम्: dizziness/whirling sensation

• स्वेदजन्या: born of sweat (sveda) / sweat-induced

• सा: that (state)

• संवित्: awareness/consciousness

• मूर्छा: swoon/fainting-like absorption

• भवेत्: arises/occurs

• यदा: when

• तदा: then

• उत्तमोत्तमः: the best of the best

• प्रोक्तः: declared/taught

• प्राणायामः: breath-restraint/prāṇic regulation

• सुशोभनः: very splendid/radiant/auspicious

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s yogic teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames prāṇāyāma as an internal limb of Shiva-upāsanā: refining prāṇa and mind so the pashu becomes fit for Linga-centered contemplation, moving from outer ritual toward inner union with Pati (Shiva).

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

By pointing to a consciousness-swoon (saṃvinmūrchā), it implies that the highest approach to Shiva is through intensified awareness that transcends ordinary mentation—where the soul tastes a still, radiant state aligned with Shiva’s pure consciousness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāṇāyāma in the Pāśupata-oriented discipline—where strong physiological signs (sweat, dizziness) and altered awareness are treated as markers of intensified breath-restraint and inward absorption.