Shloka 33

स्वेच्छाविग्रहसंभव-प्रतिष्ठाफलवर्णनम् (विविधशिवमूर्तिप्रतिष्ठा, लोक-फल, शिवसायुज्य)

Devanagari script

नृत्यन्तं भूतसंघैश् च गणसंघैस् त्वलंकृतम् कृत्वा भक्त्या प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथाविभवविस्तरम्

Transliteration

nṛtyantaṃ bhūtasaṃghaiś ca gaṇasaṃghais tvalaṃkṛtam kṛtvā bhaktyā pratiṣṭhāpya yathāvibhavavistaram

Translation

Having fashioned (the icon—the form of the Liṅga) adorned by hosts of bhūtas and companies of gaṇas dancing in attendance, one should, with bhakti, establish it in consecration according to one’s means and with fitting ritual elaboration, so that the rite becomes a worthy offering to Pati, Śiva.

Word by Word

• नृत्यन्तम्: dancing

• भूत-संघैः: by hosts of bhūtas (attendant spirits)

• च: and

• गण-संघैः: by companies of gaṇas (Śiva’s attendants)

• तु: indeed

• अलंकृतम्: adorned/decorated

• कृत्वा: having made/having prepared

• भक्त्या: with devotion

• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: having installed/consecrated

• यथा: according to

• विभव: resources/means

• विस्तरम्: extent, elaboration, proper detail of the rite

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga-pratiṣṭhā vidhi to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Bhutas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Linga-pratiṣṭhā as a bhakti-centered act: the installation should be done with reverence and ritual completeness, yet scaled to one’s capacity—making sincere devotion, not extravagance, the core offering to Śiva (Pati).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is implied as Pati—Lord of the gaṇas and bhūtas—whose transcendence still accepts immanent worship through consecrated form; his cosmic sovereignty is reflected in the attendants who ornament and celebrate him.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Linga-pratiṣṭhā (consecratory installation) with proportional ritual “vistara” is highlighted; the yogic takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: bhakti and right observance loosen pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul) under the grace of Pati.