Shloka 35

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

सर्वत्र फलदाता हि प्रयासानुगुणं शिवः । अथवा लिंगदानं वा लिंगमौल्यमथापि वा

Transliteration

sarvatra phaladātā hi prayāsānuguṇaṃ śivaḥ | athavā liṃgadānaṃ vā liṃgamaulyamathāpi vā

Translation

Überall ist Śiva wahrlich der Spender der Früchte entsprechend dem aufrichtigen Bemühen. Daher wird es verdienstvoll, sei es die Gabe eines Liṅga oder sogar die Darbringung seines Wertes (als Preis).

Word by Word

• sarvatra: everywhere/in all cases
• sarvatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: everywhere)

• phala-dātā: giver of results
• phala-dātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + dātṛ (प्रातिपदिक; √dā धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा/कर्ता (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'phalānāṃ dātā'

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• prayāsa-anuguṇam: in accordance with the effort
• prayāsa-anuguṇam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prayāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + anuguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'prayāsasya anuguṇam' = 'according to effort' (adverbial accusative)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा/कर्ता (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg.)

• athavā: or else/alternatively
• athavā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive: or/alternatively)

• liṅga-dānam: gift of a liṅga
• liṅga-dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक; √dā धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/कर्म (1st/Nominative as item listed), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'liṅgasya dānam'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (particle: or)

• liṅga-maulyam: the value/price of a liṅga
• liṅga-maulyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + maulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/कर्म (1st/Nominative as item listed), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'liṅgasya maulyam'

• atha: then/also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक अव्यय (then/now)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (particle: or)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General doctrine of phala-dāna: Śiva grants results proportionate to prayatna (effort) and bhāva (intent), extending merit even to liṅga-dāna or donating its equivalent value.

Significance: Encourages dāna connected to liṅga-sevā; frames giving (object or value) as a valid devotional substitute when direct gifting is impractical.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva responds to the inner sincerity and effort of the devotee, not merely the external scale of the act; even a humble offering gains fruit when aligned with devotion.

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

It affirms Liṅga-centered devotion as a direct means of approaching Saguna Śiva, and states that donating a Liṅga—or offering its equivalent value—supports sacred worship and earns Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with capacity-based offerings (including charity for Liṅga installation or maintenance), while keeping a steady bhāva of devotion and effort as the core discipline.