Shloka 26

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya

The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga

Devanagari script

पार्थिवं शिवलिंगं च विप्रो यदि न पूजयेत् । स याति नरकं घोरं शूलप्रोतं सुदारुणम्

Transliteration

pārthivaṃ śivaliṃgaṃ ca vipro yadi na pūjayet | sa yāti narakaṃ ghoraṃ śūlaprotaṃ sudāruṇam

Translation

إن لم يعبد البراهمن اللِّينغا الشيفية المصنوعة من التراب (بارثيفا)، مضى إلى جحيمٍ رهيبٍ شديد الفظاعة، حيث يُطعن ويُسَمَّر على رمحٍ ذي ثلاث شعب (التريشولا).

Word by Word

• पार्थिवम्: earthen
• पार्थिवम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शिवलिङ्गम्: Śiva-liṅga
• शिवलिङ्गम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य लिङ्गम्)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय/conjunction (and)

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तसूचक-अव्यय/conditional particle (if)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध/negation particle

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• याति: goes
• याति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरकम्: to hell
• नरकम्: कर्म (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शूलप्रोतम्: pierced by a trident
• शूलप्रोतम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूल-प्रोत (कृदन्त; √प्रु/√प्रो (धातु) + क्त; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी/तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थ (शूलेन प्रोतः = pierced by a trident)

• सुदारुणम्: very dreadful
• सुदारुणम्: कर्म (Object qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-दरुण (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्ग-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-origin passage; it functions as a dharma-śikṣā warning: neglect of prescribed Śiva-worship (especially by a vipra entrusted with ritual duty) leads to naraka—an expression of karmic consequence under Śiva’s governance.

Significance: Serves as a deterrent against ritual negligence and hypocrisy; stresses accountability of religious specialists.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It stresses that neglect of prescribed Śiva-bhakti—especially Liṅga worship by one entrusted with dharma—creates severe karmic consequences, highlighting accountability and the sanctity of devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

The earthen (pārthiva) Liṅga is a tangible Saguna focus for reverence toward the Nirguna-Supreme; honoring the symbol is honoring Śiva’s presence and grace within ritual discipline.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pārthiva-liṅga pūjā—forming a Liṅga from clean earth and worshipping with mantra (notably the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with simple offerings and inner recollection of Śiva.