Shloka 4

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

अन्नादिभोज्यं वस्त्रादिसर्वमुत्पद्यते यतः । ततो मृदादिप्रतिमापूजाभीष्टप्रदा भुवि

Transliteration

annādibhojyaṃ vastrādisarvamutpadyate yataḥ | tato mṛdādipratimāpūjābhīṣṭapradā bhuvi

Translation

Da alles — Speise zum Essen und Gewand zum Tragen — daraus hervorgeht, wird daher auf Erden die Verehrung eines aus Ton und dergleichen gefertigten Bildnisses zum Spender der ersehnten Früchte.

Word by Word

• अन्नादिभोज्यम्: edibles such as food
• अन्नादिभोज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + आदि + भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘food etc. that is to be eaten’

• वस्त्रादिसर्वम्: all (things) such as clothes etc.
• वस्त्रादिसर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र + आदि + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहारार्थे ‘all (things) like clothes etc.’

• उत्पद्यते: is produced/arises
• उत्पद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः ‘arises/is produced’

• यतः: from which / because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative adverb), हेत्वर्थे ‘from which/because’

• ततः: therefore/from that
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (correlative adverb), ‘therefore/from that’

• मृदादिप्रतिमापूजा: worship of an idol made of clay etc.
• मृदादिप्रतिमापूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् + आदि + प्रतिमा + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपद-भावे (subject)

• अभीष्टप्रदा: bestower of desired boons
• अभीष्टप्रदा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीष्ट + प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘पूजा’)

• भुवि: on earth/in the world
• भुवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुवि/भूमि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण-भावे (locative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The verse grounds ritual efficacy in the metaphysics of ‘earth’ (mṛd) as the generative basis for food, clothing, and material supports; this resonates with Kāśī’s Annapūrṇā-Visveśvara axis where sustenance and liberation are paired—Annapūrṇā nourishes, Viśveśvara grants ultimate refuge.

Significance: Affirms that simple, accessible materials (clay) can mediate Śiva’s grace; encourages inclusive devotion where even minimal resources become spiritually potent.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that since worldly supports like food and clothing arise from material nature, using material forms (like clay images) in worship is valid and can grant spiritual and worldly aims when offered with devotion to Shiva.

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

It supports Saguna worship: Shiva may be approached through consecrated forms—linga or pratimā—so the devotee’s mind gains steadiness and devotion, ultimately leading toward realization beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-puja using a clay (mṛt) image or linga with offerings (naivedya, flowers, water), while mentally anchoring devotion through mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”