Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 126

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

वीतदोषो ऽक्षयगुणो दक्षारिः पूषदन्तहृत् धूर्जटिः खण्डपरशुः सकलो निष्कलो ऽनघः

Transliteration

vītadoṣo 'kṣayaguṇo dakṣāriḥ pūṣadantahṛt dhūrjaṭiḥ khaṇḍaparaśuḥ sakalo niṣkalo 'naghaḥ

Translation

祂离诸过失，具不坏功德；为达克沙之敌，拔去普尚之齿者。祂名都尔阇提，披结发；执断斧者。祂既具相（Sakala）亦超相（Niṣkala），无垢之主——为主宰（Pati）解脱有情之兽（paśu）脱离缚索（pāśa）。

Word by Word

• vīta-doṣaḥ: free from faults/defects

• akṣaya-guṇaḥ: of imperishable qualities

• dakṣa-ariḥ: enemy of Dakṣa

• pūṣa-danta-hṛt: remover of Pūṣan’s teeth

• dhūrjaṭiḥ: he of matted/lofty locks

• khaṇḍa-paraśuḥ: bearer of the broken axe

• sakalaḥ: endowed with form/manifest aspect

• niṣkalaḥ: formless/unmanifest aspect

• anaghaḥ: sinless, stainless

Speaker

Suta Goswami (reciting the Shiva Sahasranama within the Linga Purana narration)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha
• Pusha

FAQs

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

It frames the Liṅga as Shiva who is simultaneously Sakala (worshipable with attributes in the icon/linga) and Niṣkala (the attributeless Absolute), guiding devotees to honor both ritual form and transcendent reality.

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

Shiva is described as stainless and defect-free (vītadoṣa, anagha) with imperishable powers (akṣayaguṇa), yet capable of decisive cosmic action (Dakṣa-ari, Pūṣadanta-hṛt). He is the one Reality appearing as both manifest and unmanifest—Pati beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports upāsanā that unites external Liṅga-pūjā (Sakala focus) with internal contemplation on the Niṣkala Shiva through Pāśupata-oriented detachment from doṣas (defects) and bonds (pāśa).