Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 167

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

गुर्वाज्ञापालकः सम्यक् ज्ञानसंपत्तिमश्नुते गच्छंस्तिष्ठन्स्वपन् भुञ्जन् यद्यत्कर्म समाचरेत्

Transliteration

gurvājñāpālakaḥ samyak jñānasaṃpattimaśnute gacchaṃstiṣṭhansvapan bhuñjan yadyatkarma samācaret

Translation

能如法守持上师之命者，确实获得解脱之智的财富。无论行走、站立、睡眠或饮食——他所作的一切行持皆与正行相应，引导被缚众生（paśu）趋向湿婆——主宰帕提（Pati）。

Word by Word

• guru-ājñā-pālakaḥ: one who preserves/obeys the Guru’s command

• samyak: rightly, fully

• jñāna-saṃpattim: the treasure/attainment of spiritual knowledge

• aśnute: attains

• gacchan: while going/walking

• tiṣṭhan: while standing

• svapan: while sleeping

• bhuñjan: while eating

• yadyat: whatever

• karma: action, deed

• samācaret: he performs/practises (properly).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching in the Linga Purana discourse to the sages)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It frames Linga worship as not only ritual but a Guru-guided life-discipline: obeying the Guru makes all daily actions (even eating and sleeping) supportive of Śiva-upāsanā and inner purification.

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

By implication it presents Śiva as Pati—the liberating Lord—reached through jñāna. The Guru’s command is the practical channel that turns the paśu away from pāśa (bondage) toward Śiva-tattva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā through Guru-śuśrūṣā (service/obedience to the preceptor), integrating practice into every state—walking, standing, sleeping, and eating—so conduct itself becomes yoga.