Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

करणं कारणं कर्ता सर्वबन्धविमोचनः विद्वत्तमो वीतभयो विश्वभर्ता निशाकरः

Transliteration

karaṇaṃ kāraṇaṃ kartā sarvabandhavimocanaḥ vidvattamo vītabhayo viśvabhartā niśākaraḥ

Translation

祂既是器具，亦是至上之因，是一切作为之作者。祂解脱一切系缚（pāśa），智慧最胜，毫无怖畏，护持宇宙，并为尼沙迦罗（Niśākara）——佩持明月者。

Word by Word

• करणम् (karaṇam): instrument/means

• कारणम् (kāraṇam): cause/ultimate cause

• कर्ता (kartā): doer/agent

• सर्व-बन्ध-विमोचनः (sarva-bandha-vimocanaḥ): liberator from all bonds

• विद्वत्तमः (vidvattamaḥ): best among the wise/most learned

• वीत-भयः (vīta-bhayaḥ): free from fear/fearless

• विश्व-भर्ता (viśva-bhartā): sustainer of the world

• निशाकरः (niśākaraḥ): moon-maker/moon-bearer (an epithet of Shiva)

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

By naming Shiva as both the means (karaṇa) and the cause (kāraṇa), the verse frames Linga-pūjā as worship of Pati—the ultimate source and support—who alone can cut the pāśas (bondages) of the pashu (individual soul).

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

Shiva is presented as transcendent causality (kāraṇa) and immanent agency (kartā), the cosmic sustainer (viśvabhartā) and the liberator (sarvabandhavimocanaḥ), indicating Pati as both the ground of creation and the giver of mokṣa through right knowledge and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata orientation: cultivate vidyā (clarifying knowledge) and vīta-bhaya (fearlessness) through Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Sahasranāma and steady Linga-pūjā—so the pashu becomes fit for release from pāśa.