Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

मात्रापादो रुद्रलोको ह्य् अमात्रं तु शिवं पदम् एवं ज्ञानविशेषेण तत्पदं समुपास्यते

Transliteration

mātrāpādo rudraloko hy amātraṃ tu śivaṃ padam evaṃ jñānaviśeṣeṇa tatpadaṃ samupāsyate

Translation

鲁陀罗界（Rudra-loka）是由可度量的音量（mātrā）所成之“一分”（pāda）；而湿婆的至上境界则为“无量”（Amātra）——超越度量，亦超越言音。故当以殊胜分别智（jñāna-viśeṣa），恒常观想并礼敬彼至上之住处（Pada）。

Word by Word

• मात्रा-पादः: a quarter/pāda made of mātrās (measurable units, syllabic measures)

• रुद्र-लोकः: Rudra’s world/realm

• हि: indeed

• अमात्रम्: beyond mātrā, measureless, unutterable

• तु: but

• शिवम्: auspicious, Śiva

• पदम्: state, abode, supreme station

• एवम्: thus

• ज्ञान-विशेषेण: by a specific/discriminative knowledge

• तत्-पदम्: that supreme state

• समुपास्यते: is to be worshipped/meditated upon with full attention

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It shifts worship from only external, measurable forms (mantra, mātrā, ritual) to inner upāsanā of Śiva’s Amātra-pada—indicating that the Linga ultimately points to the transcendent Pati beyond all measures.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as Amātra—beyond sound-measure, beyond conceptual limitation—while Rudra-loka remains within the domain of mātrā (articulated, measurable manifestation).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A jñāna-viśeṣa-based upāsanā: discriminative contemplation that transcends mantra-measure (mātrā) and abides in the formless, measureless Śiva-pada—aligned with Pāśupata-oriented inner meditation for cutting Pāśa (bondage) from the Pashu.