Shloka 12

उत्तरदिग्देशस्थ-शिवलीङ्गमाहात्म्य

Māhātmya of Northern-Region Śiva-liṅgas

Devanagari script

दाधीचमूर्तिस्तत्रैव समर्च्या विधिपूर्वकम् । शिवप्रीत्यर्थमेवाशु तीर्थयात्रा फलार्थिभिः

Transliteration

dādhīcamūrtistatraiva samarcyā vidhipūrvakam | śivaprītyarthamevāśu tīrthayātrā phalārthibhiḥ

Translation

Right there, the sacred form of Dadhīca should be worshipped in due ritual order. Those who seek the fruits of pilgrimage should promptly undertake the tīrtha-journey solely for the pleasure of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• दाधीचमूर्तिः: the image of Dadhīca
• दाधीचमूर्तिः: Karma (कर्म/Object—thing to be worshipped)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dādhīca (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘दाधीचस्य मूर्तिः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• समर्च्या: should be duly worshipped
• समर्च्या: Vidheyā (विधेय/Predicate necessity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√arc (सम्+अर्च् धातु) + ya (णिच्/यत्? here: gerundive -ya)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्-समर्थ ‘-ya’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय—‘to be worshipped’

• विधिपूर्वकम्: according to proper procedure
• विधिपूर्वकम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव: ‘विधिना पूर्वकम्’ = according to rule; अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण

• शिवप्रीत्यर्थम्: for pleasing Śiva
• शिवप्रीत्यर्थम्: Hetu (हेतु/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + prīti (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (purpose): ‘शिवस्य प्रीत्यर्थम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (प्रयोजनार्थे)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of speed)

• तीर्थयात्रा: pilgrimage to a sacred place
• तीर्थयात्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + yātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘तीर्थस्य यात्रा’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• फलार्थिभिः: by those desiring results
• फलार्थिभिः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent—by/for those)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘फलम् अर्थयते इति/फलस्य अर्थी’; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-tirtha and Jyotirlinga pilgrimage merits to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse prescribes worship of the Dadhīca-mūrti at that kṣetra and frames tīrtha-yātrā as undertaken for Śiva-prīti (Śiva’s pleasure), a typical Purāṇic rationale for pilgrimage.

Significance: Tīrtha-yātrā performed with Śiva-prīti as the motive is presented as fruit-bearing; the emphasis is on bhāva (intention) aligning the bound soul (paśu) toward grace (anugraha).

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dadhichi

FAQs

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

The verse redirects pilgrimage from mere merit-collection to Śiva-prīti—doing sacred travel and worship as an act of devotion to Pati (Śiva), which purifies intention and makes the tīrtha practice spiritually fruitful.

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

In Kotirudra contexts, tīrthas are approached through saguna upāsanā—ritual worship performed ‘vidhi-pūrvakam.’ Pleasing Śiva through proper worship at sacred sites aligns the pilgrim with the grace-centered path associated with Jyotirlinga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It emphasizes vidhi-pūrvaka arcana (proper ritual worship) and the right bhāva (intention) for tīrtha-yātrā—undertaking pilgrimage promptly with devotion to Śiva; practitioners may support this with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during travel.