Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

अध्याय ८२ — व्यपोहनस्तवः (पापव्यपोहन-स्तोत्रम्)

Devanagari script

पादाङ्गुष्ठेन सोमाङ्गपेषकः प्रभुसंज्ञकः उपेन्द्रेन्द्रयमादीनां देवानामङ्गरक्षकः

Transliteration

pādāṅguṣṭhena somāṅgapeṣakaḥ prabhusaṃjñakaḥ upendrendrayamādīnāṃ devānāmaṅgarakṣakaḥ

Translation

仅以其伟大足拇趾之轻压，便摧伏苏摩之傲慢；祂以“至上主”之名而闻名。祂以主宰之威护持诸天之身与力——优毗因陀罗（毗湿奴）、因陀罗、阎摩等——皆在祂的王权之力中得守护。

Word by Word

• पादाङ्गुष्ठेन: with (His) great toe

• सोमाङ्गपेषकः: one who crushes/subdues Soma’s body (i.e., humbles Soma’s pride)

• प्रभुसंज्ञकः: known as Prabhu, the Lord

• उपेन्द्रेन्द्रयमादीनाम्: of Upendra, Indra, Yama and others

• देवानाम्: of the gods

• अङ्गरक्षकः: protector of their limbs/bodies (their embodied powers).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva-nama passage to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Soma
• Vishnu (Upendra)
• Indra
• Yama

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose power sustains even the devas—so Linga worship is presented as devotion to the ultimate protector and governor of all cosmic functions.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as sovereign and transcendent: with effortless control (symbolized by the great toe), Shiva humbles celestial ego and safeguards the gods’ very capacities, indicating His unmatched lordship over all tattvas and powers.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied practice is Pashupata-bhakti and surrender: recognizing the devas themselves depend on Pati dissolves pride (pāśa) and supports inner renunciation while performing Linga-puja with humility and reliance on Shiva’s protection.