Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 114

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

स एव मुक्तः संसाराद् दुःखत्रयविवर्जितः एवं ज्ञानं विना नास्ति ध्यानं ध्यातुर् द्विजर्षभाः

Transliteration

sa eva muktaḥ saṃsārād duḥkhatrayavivarjitaḥ evaṃ jñānaṃ vinā nāsti dhyānaṃ dhyātur dvijarṣabhāḥ

Translation

唯有此人真正解脱于轮回（saṁsāra），远离三重苦。是故，噢二生中之最胜者！若无真实之智（jñāna），行观者便无从成就禅观（dhyāna）。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he

• eva: alone/indeed

• muktaḥ: liberated

• saṁsārāt: from transmigratory existence

• duḥkha-traya: the threefold suffering (ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika, ādhidaivika)

• vivarjitaḥ: devoid of/free from

• evaṁ: thus/in this way

• jñānam: spiritual knowledge (Pati-jñāna/ātma-jñāna)

• vinā: without

• nāsti: is not/does not exist

• dhyānam: meditation (dhyāna)

• dhyātuḥ: for the meditator

• dvijarṣabhāḥ: O bulls among the twice-born (foremost Brāhmaṇas).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva 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 Linga-upāsanā as inner realization: worship matures into mokṣa only when supported by jñāna; mere external ritual without right understanding does not culminate in true dhyāna or liberation.

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

By implying liberation as freedom from the threefold duḥkha, it points to Shiva as Pati—the transcendent source of release—known through jñāna that dissolves pasha (bondage) for the pashu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pāśupata-oriented discipline: dhyāna is presented as impossible without jñāna, indicating a progression from right knowledge (tattva-jñāna) to steady meditation on Shiva and then mokṣa.