Shloka 14

देवदारुवनौकसां प्रति ब्रह्मोपदेशः—लिङ्गलक्षण-प्रतिष्ठा-विधिः, शिवमायारूपदर्शनं, स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

गोमुखी च त्रिभागैका वेद्या लक्षणसंयुता पट्टिका च समन्ताद्वै यवमात्रा द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

gomukhī ca tribhāgaikā vedyā lakṣaṇasaṃyutā paṭṭikā ca samantādvai yavamātrā dvijottamāḥ

Translation

يا أفضلَ المولودين مرتين، ينبغي أن تُصاغَ القاعدة (vedī) على هيئة «فمِ البقرة» (gomukhī)، مُقسَّمةً إلى ثلاثة أقسام ومُتَّسمةً بالعلامات المقرَّرة؛ وأن يُجعل حولها من كل جانب شريطٌ مُحيط (paṭṭikā) بمقدار يَفَا واحد (حبّة شعير).

Word by Word

• गोमुखी: cow-mouth shaped (spouted form for outflow)

• च: and

• त्रिभाग-एका: consisting of three divisions/parts

• वेद्या: the pedestal/altar-base (of the Liṅga)

• लक्षण-संयुता: endowed with the defining marks/rules

• पट्टिका: surrounding strip/band/moulding

• च: and

• समन्तात्: on all sides

• वै: indeed

• यव-मात्रा: of one barley-grain measure

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (address to Brahmins).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages; instructional passage on Liṅga installation)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It specifies the correct construction of the Liṅga’s pedestal (vedī/yoni)—its divisions, identifying marks, and the precise surrounding band—showing that Shiva-puja requires disciplined, rule-based installation (pratiṣṭhā) to support steady devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

Indirectly, it presents Shiva-tattva as approached through a sacred support (ādhāra): the formless Pati is worshipped through a properly marked form, where correct ‘lakṣaṇa’ safeguards the rite and aligns the worshipper (paśu) toward liberation from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A pratiṣṭhā-oriented puja practice is highlighted: shaping the gomukhī pedestal and setting exact measurements (yava-mātrā). This supports focused upāsanā and steadiness (dhāraṇā-like discipline) in Shaiva worship.