Shloka 17

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

दीपाज्ज्ञानमवाप्नोति तांबूलाद्भोगमाप्नुयात् । तस्मात्स्नानादिकं षट्कं प्रयत्नेन प्रसाधयेत्

Transliteration

dīpājjñānamavāpnoti tāṃbūlādbhogamāpnuyāt | tasmātsnānādikaṃ ṣaṭkaṃ prayatnena prasādhayet

Translation

Durch das Darbringen einer Lampe erlangt man wahre Erkenntnis; durch das Darbringen von tāmbūla (Betel) gewinnt man Genuss und Wohlergehen. Darum soll man mit Eifer die sechsfachen Verrichtungen, beginnend mit dem rituellen Bad, sorgfältig vollziehen, als Teil rechter Verehrung.

Word by Word

• दीपात्: from a lamp
• दीपात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: attains/obtains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव्+आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ताम्बूलात्: from betel (leaf)
• ताम्बूलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• भोगम्: enjoyment
• भोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आप्नुयात्: should attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverbial), अर्थः—‘अतः/तस्मादर्थे’

• स्नान-आदिकम्: (the set) beginning with bathing, etc.
• स्नान-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—आदि-तत्पुरुष ("beginning with bath")

• षट्कम्: the group of six
• षट्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या) + क (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासार्थः—‘षड्विधं समूहः’

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• प्रसाधयेत्: should duly perform/complete
• प्रसाधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+साध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General upacāra-phala teaching; not tied to a particular Jyotirliṅga narrative.

Significance: Highlights dīpa as a means to jñāna (inner illumination) and tāmbūla as a giver of bhoga; urges completion of the ‘sixfold’ foundational observances beginning with snāna for full ritual efficacy.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that specific offerings in Shiva-puja bear corresponding fruits—light (dīpa) supports the arising of jñāna, while tāmbūla supports bhoga—so a devotee should carefully maintain the full discipline of worship beginning with purity through bathing.

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

Lamp and tāmbūla are standard upacāras offered to the Shiva-Linga in Saguna worship; the verse links these outward acts to inner results—illumination of understanding and ordered worldly well-being—supporting steady devotion that matures toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends diligent observance of the ‘sixfold’ routine starting with snāna (ritual bath) as preparation for Shiva-puja, along with offering a lamp (dīpa) and other upacāras; this can be paired with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during worship.