Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

तत्र चैषा तु या मात्रा प्लुता नामोपदिश्यते एषा एव भवेत्कार्या गृहस्थानां तु योगिनाम्

Transliteration

tatra caiṣā tu yā mātrā plutā nāmopadiśyate eṣā eva bhavetkāryā gṛhasthānāṃ tu yoginām

Translation

在此处，所教授名为“pluta”（延长发声）的音量尺度（mātrā）——唯此应为居家行持的瑜伽行者所修。以有规制、延长的持诵（japa），令兽魂（paśu，个体灵）在世务中得以安定，并使心转向主宰（Pati）——湿婆（Śiva）之足下。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there/in that context

• च: and

• एषा: this

• तु: indeed

• या: which

• मात्रा: measure/time-unit of utterance (prosodic duration)

• प्लुता: prolonged (pluta-vowel, extended recitation)

• नाम: by name/as ‘pluta’

• उपदिश्यते: is taught/instructed

• एषा एव: this alone/this very one

• भवेत्: should be/ought to be

• कार्या: to be done/practiced

• गृहस्थानाम्: of householders

• तु: indeed

• योगिनाम्: of yogins/disciples engaged in yoga

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya, conveying a yoga/japa instruction)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links outer Linga-puja to inner discipline: the householder-yogin is instructed to use a prolonged, regulated mantra-duration (pluta-mātrā) so the mind becomes fit for Śiva (Pati) while living amid duties.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as the stable, supreme Pati who is approached through steadied sound and attention; by lengthened japa the pashu’s scattered awareness is gathered toward the Lord who grants purification and release from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pluta-style japa—prolonged, measured recitation (commonly applied to praṇava/Śiva-mantra)—is prescribed specifically for gṛhastha yogins as a practical Pāśupata-leaning method of concentration.