Shiva Purana
यथा सर्वेषु वर्णेषु ब्राह्मणःश्रेष्ठ उच्यते । तथा सर्वेषु लिंगेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते १२ ।
Just as the brahmin is spoken of as the most excellent of all Varṇas so also is the earthen phallic image of Śiva the most excellent of all other phallic images.
english translation
yathA sarveSu varNeSu brAhmaNaHzreSTha ucyate । tathA sarveSu liMgeSu pArthivaM zreSThamucyate 12 ।
hk transliteration by Sanscript