Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Varaha-Pradurbhava Context: Prahlada’s Bhakti, Narasimha’s Ugra-Form, and Shiva’s Sharabha Intervention

Devanagari script

सेवितं गणगन्धर्वैः सिद्धैरप्सरसां गणैः देवताभिः सह ब्रह्मा भीतभीतः सगद्गदम् प्रणम्य दण्डवद्भूमौ तुष्टाव परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

sevitaṃ gaṇagandharvaiḥ siddhairapsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ devatābhiḥ saha brahmā bhītabhītaḥ sagadgadam praṇamya daṇḍavadbhūmau tuṣṭāva parameśvaram

Translation

在湿婆的众侍从（伽那）环绕下，又有乾闼婆、成就者（悉达）与阿普萨罗的群众，并与诸天同来，梵天因惧而战栗，伏地如杖而礼。以哽咽颤抖、断续之声，他赞颂至上主帕拉梅湿伐罗（Pati），唯有祂能解开束缚众生之魂（paśu）的系缚（pāśa）。

Word by Word

• सेवितम्: attended/served

• गणगन्धर्वैः: by the Gaṇas and Gandharvas

• सिद्धैः: by the Siddhas (perfected beings)

• अप्सरसाम् गणैः: by groups of Apsarās

• देवताभिः सह: together with the Devas

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā

• भीतभीतः: exceedingly frightened, trembling

• सगद्गदम्: with a stammering/choked voice

• प्रणम्य: having bowed

• दण्डवत्: like a staff (full prostration)

• भूमौ: on the ground

• तुष्टाव: praised, extolled

• परमेश्वरम्: Parameśvara, the Supreme Lord (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating); internal action centers on Brahma praising Shiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Devas
• Ganas
• Gandharvas
• Siddhas
• Apsaras

FAQs

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

It shows the proper inner posture behind Linga-worship: even Brahmā approaches Parameśvara with total surrender (daṇḍavat-praṇāma) and stuti, acknowledging Śiva as the supreme Pati worthy of worship beyond all celestial ranks.

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

Śiva is implied as Parameśvara—the supreme Lord before whom Devas and perfected beings assemble—indicating His transcendence and sovereign power to remove pāśa (bondage) from the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Daṇḍavat-praṇāma (full prostration) and stuti (hymnic praise) are highlighted—core acts of Śaiva upāsanā that align the paśu toward the Pati through humility, devotion, and surrender.