Shloka 2

Dāruvana-parīkṣā: Śaṅkara’s Test and the Linga’s Ritual-Theological Grounding

Devanagari script

लिंगं च पूज्यते लोके तत्त्वया कथितं च यत् । तत्तथैव न चान्यद्वा कारणं विद्यते त्विह

Transliteration

liṃgaṃ ca pūjyate loke tattvayā kathitaṃ ca yat | tattathaiva na cānyadvā kāraṇaṃ vidyate tviha

Translation

In this world the Liṅga is worshipped, and the true principle behind it has been declared. It is exactly so—here there is no other cause or explanation apart from that truth.

Word by Word

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• pūjyate: is worshipped
• pūjyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive sense ‘is worshipped’

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tattvayā: by the truth/in reality
• tattvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kathitam: said/told
• kathitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kath (धातु) → kathita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• yat: which/that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); correlates with ‘tat’

• tat: that
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (तद्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: so/just so
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb ‘so/thus’

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Niyama (नियम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• anyat: anything else
• anyat: Pratiyogin (प्रतियोगिन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, disjunctive particle ‘or’

• kāraṇam: cause/reason
• kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidyate: exists/is found
• vidyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: however/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (contrast/emphasis)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place ‘here’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms liṅga-pūjā as grounded in tattva (ultimate reality), strengthening niścaya (conviction) and bhakti leading toward Śiva’s anugraha.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It asserts that Liṅga-pūjā rests on tattva—Shiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) whose presence is approached through a sanctified symbol—so the practice is not arbitrary but grounded in revealed spiritual truth.

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

It validates worship of Shiva in a visible, saguna-support form (the Liṅga) as a correct expression of the underlying nirguna-tattva—one truth expressed through an accessible ritual focus.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with tattva-smaraṇa (contemplation of Shiva’s supreme reality), ideally joined with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to unite outer worship and inner realization.