Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

नीतिः सुनीतिः शुद्धात्मा सोमः सोमरतः सुखी सोमपो ऽमृतपः सोमो महानीतिर्महामतिः

Transliteration

nītiḥ sunītiḥ śuddhātmā somaḥ somarataḥ sukhī somapo 'mṛtapaḥ somo mahānītirmahāmatiḥ

Translation

祂即是正法之秩序，亦是最善的正法；祂自性清净。祂是苏摩（Soma）——恒常喜悦于苏摩——恒常安乐。祂是饮苏摩者，亦是饮不死甘露者；祂确是苏摩——具大治道与广大而主宰的智慧。

Word by Word

• नीतिः (nītiḥ): righteous order, wise governance

• सुनीतिः (sunītiḥ): excellent governance, perfect moral guidance

• शुद्धात्मा (śuddhātmā): pure-souled, stainless Self

• सोमः (somaḥ): Soma, the nectar/moon principle, auspicious essence

• सोमरतः (somarataḥ): devoted to Soma, delighting in the nectar-essence

• सुखी (sukhī): blissful, ever in happiness

• सोमपः (somapaḥ): Soma-drinker (receiver of Vedic offering)

• अमृतपः (amṛtapaḥ): drinker of immortality, bestower/partaker of deathlessness

• सोमो (somo): He is Soma Himself

• महानीतिः (mahānītiḥ): of great polity, supreme moral order

• महामतिः (mahāmatiḥ): great-minded, vast intelligence

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Soma

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva-as-Linga as the very principle of purity and right cosmic order (nīti), while also being the Soma-essence received through Vedic offering—linking inner purification and outer yajña into one Shaiva focus.

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

Shiva is presented as Śuddhātman (pure consciousness) and Pati (the sovereign intelligence) whose governance dissolves pasha (bondage) and stabilizes the pashu (soul) in sukha—bliss rooted in the immortal Soma-essence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritually, it points to Soma-offering and Shiva’s acceptance as Somapa; yogically, it implies Pashupata discipline of śuddhi (purification) and alignment with nīti—right conduct and right order as a sādhanā.