Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

विप्रः कुर्याद्दंतकाष्ठं द्वादशांगुलमानतः । एकादशांगुलं राजा वैश्यः कुर्याद्दशांगुलम्

Transliteration

vipraḥ kuryāddaṃtakāṣṭhaṃ dvādaśāṃgulamānataḥ | ekādaśāṃgulaṃ rājā vaiśyaḥ kuryāddaśāṃgulam

Translation

على البراهمة أن يُعِدّ عود تنظيف الأسنان بطول اثني عشر عرضَ إصبع؛ وعلى الملك (الكشترية) أن يستعمل ما طوله أحد عشر؛ وعلى الويشية أن يستعمل ما طوله عشرة.

Word by Word

• विप्रः: a Brahmin
• विप्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दन्तकाष्ठम्: tooth-stick
• दन्तकाष्ठम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दन्तस्य काष्ठम्)

• द्वादशाङ्गुलमानतः: according to a measure of twelve finger-breadths
• द्वादशाङ्गुलमानतः: अधिकरण/हेतु (Adhikaraṇa/Hetu—standard/measure)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्वादश + अङ्गुल + मान + तस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’ = ‘according to/from the measure’; समास: द्वादश-अङ्गुल-मान (measure of twelve fingers)

• एकादशाङ्गुलम्: eleven finger-breadths
• एकादशाङ्गुलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object—measure/extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादश + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (संख्यापूर्वक)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वैश्यः: a Vaishya
• वैश्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दशाङ्गुलम्: ten finger-breadths
• दशाङ्गुलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object—measure/extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches śauca (purity) and disciplined daily conduct as a foundation for Shaiva worship—outer cleanliness supporting inner steadiness for mantra-japa and devotion to Pati (Shiva).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Before approaching Saguna Shiva in Linga worship, one cultivates purity and order; such niyamas prepare the body-mind so offerings, japa, and pūjā are performed with reverence and clarity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical morning observance (dantadhāvana) with a properly measured twig, as part of daily preparation for Shaiva practices like applying bhasma, chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and performing pūjā.