Shloka 73

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

घृतपक्वैरपूपैश्च मोदकैः शालिकादिभिः । द्वादशैश्च दधिक्षीरैर्द्वादशप्रस्थकेन च

Transliteration

ghṛtapakvairapūpaiśca modakaiḥ śālikādibhiḥ | dvādaśaiśca dadhikṣīrairdvādaśaprasthakena ca

Translation

«(يُقَدَّمُ) كعكٌ مطهوٌّ بالسمن المصفّى (ghṛta)، مع حلوى أپُوپَة (apūpa) والمودَكَة (modaka)، ومع الأرزّ الفاخر (śāli) وما شابهه؛ وكذلك اثنتا عشرة كِيلة من اللبن الرائب والحليب، لتبلغ جملتها اثني عشر پْرَسْثَة (prastha)».

Word by Word

• ghṛta-pakvaiḥ: with ghee-cooked
• ghṛta-pakvaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + pakva (कृदन्त/विशेषण, √pac धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया/करण (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'ghṛtena pakvāḥ'

• apūpaiḥ: with cakes (apūpas)
• apūpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया/करण (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (pl.)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• modakaiḥ: with sweet balls (modakas)
• modakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: modaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया/करण (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (pl.)

• śālika-ādibhiḥ: with śālika and the like (grains/items)
• śālika-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālika (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया/करण (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'śālikaḥ ādiḥ yeṣām' (ādi = 'etc.')

• dvādaśaiḥ: with twelve (kinds/units)
• dvādaśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया/करण (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (pl.)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• dadhi-kṣīraiḥ: with curd and milk
• dadhi-kṣīraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया/करण (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (copulative): 'dadhi ca kṣīraṃ ca'

• dvādaśa-prasthakena: with a measure of twelve prasthas
• dvādaśa-prasthakena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + prastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया/करण (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—द्विगुः: 'dvādaśa prasthāḥ' (twelve prasthas as a measure)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Śiva worship is intertwined with Annapūrṇā’s nourishment motif; rich naivedya (ghee-cooked sweets, milk/curd) reflects the temple economy of prasāda and feeding as devotion.

Significance: Offering rich foods and distributing prasāda/anna is treated as a stabilizing devotional act that supports dharma and community, and is believed to draw Śiva’s favor and inner purity.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Continuation of Dhanurmāsa seasonal vrata context for enhanced offerings.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through sattvic, carefully measured offerings—showing that Shiva worship values purity, devotion, and disciplined giving rather than mere display.

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

In Saguna worship of the Shiva-Linga, naivedya (food offerings) are part of upacharas; offering milk and curd aligns with traditional abhisheka and devotional hospitality to the Lord present in the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is structured Shiva-puja with naivedya—offer with cleanliness and devotion, mentally dedicating the act through the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before and after offering.