Shloka 62

मुक्तयतिदेहसंस्काररहस्यं — The Esoteric Rites for the Bodies of Liberated Ascetics

Devanagari script

एकारत्निसमुत्सेधमरत्निद्वयविस्तृतम् । मृदा पीठं प्रकल्प्याथ गोपये नोपलेपयेत्

Transliteration

ekāratnisamutsedhamaratnidvayavistṛtam | mṛdā pīṭhaṃ prakalpyātha gopaye nopalepayet

Translation

Then, having prepared a pedestal of earth—one cubit in height and two cubits in breadth—one should keep it protected and should not smear or plaster it over.

Word by Word

• एकारत्नि-समुत्सेधम्: having a height of one aratni
• एकारत्नि-समुत्सेधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकारत्नि-समुत्सेध (प्रातिपदिक) [एक + रत्नि + समुत्सेध]
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् पीठम्; परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• अरत्नि-द्वय-विस्तृतम्: spread two aratnis wide
• अरत्नि-द्वय-विस्तृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरत्नि-द्वय-विस्तृत (प्रातिपदिक) [अरत्नि + द्वय + विस्तृत]
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् पीठम्; परिमाणवाचक

• मृदा: with clay/earth
• मृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• पीठम्: platform/seat
• पीठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रकल्प्य: having prepared
• प्रकल्प्य: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), from √कल्प् with उपसर्ग प्र-; ‘having prepared/arranged’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; sequence marker (अनन्तरार्थक)

• गोपये: protect/cover (it)
• गोपये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √गुप्/गोपाय (to protect/cover)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• उपलेपयेत्: should plaster/smear
• उपलेपयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + लिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √लिप् ‘to smear/plaster’ with उप-

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes purity, simplicity, and careful guardianship of the worship-base (pīṭha). In a Shaiva Siddhanta spirit, disciplined preparation of the sacred space supports steadiness of mind and devotion, helping the bound soul (paśu) turn toward the Lord (Pati) without distraction.

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

A properly measured, earthen pīṭha becomes the stable seat for Linga worship, honoring Saguna Shiva through tangible ritual order. Not plastering it suggests retaining the natural, unadorned sanctity of earth—supporting a sattvic, unobstructed offering to the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare an earthen pedestal with prescribed dimensions, keep it clean and protected, and proceed with Linga puja with mantra and offerings. The practical takeaway is meticulous altar-preparation as a form of meditative discipline (niyama) preceding worship.