Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

मुनिमोहशमनम्

Pāśupata-yoga, Siddhis, Puruṣa-darśana, Saṃsāra, and Prāṇa-Rudra Pañcāhutī

Devanagari script

शब्दः स्पर्शो रसो गन्धो रूपं चैव मनस् तथा प्रवर्तन्ते ऽस्य चेच्छातो न भवन्ति यथेच्छया

Transliteration

śabdaḥ sparśo raso gandho rūpaṃ caiva manas tathā pravartante 'sya cecchāto na bhavanti yathecchayā

Translation

声、触、味、香、色，以及心识——这一切唯依祂的意愿而运作；并不随其自身任性而行。故而，缚生（paśu）之诸根诸能，皆在至上主宰 Pati（湿婆）之统摄下转动，非由独立自作。

Word by Word

• शब्दः: sound

• स्पर्शः: touch

• रसः: taste

• गन्धः: smell

• रूपम्: form/colour

• च एव: and indeed

• मनः: mind

• तथा: likewise

• प्रवर्तन्ते: they proceed/operate

• अस्य: of him/under his

• च: and

• इच्छातः: by (his) will

• न भवन्ति: do not become/do not occur

• यथा-इच्छया: according to their own desire/at will

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the doctrinal point within the Purva-Bhaga discourse)

FAQs

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

It frames worship as surrender of the senses and mind to the Pati (Shiva): the devotee offers indriyas into the Linga, recognizing that all perception and inner movement ultimately depend on Shiva’s governing will.

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

It presents Shiva as the sovereign controller (Pati) whose icchā (will) regulates the operations of mind and sense-objects—showing the Pashu’s lack of absolute autonomy and the primacy of Shiva’s lordship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Indriya-nigraha (restraint of the senses) and manonigraha (discipline of mind) as a Pashupata-oriented yogic takeaway: align perception and intention to Shiva through japa, dhyāna, and Linga-pūjā.