Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

तल्लिंगं तज्जलेनाभिषेचयेत्परमर्षयः । शतरुद्रियमंत्रैस्तु प्रोक्षितं शांतिमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

talliṃgaṃ tajjalenābhiṣecayetparamarṣayaḥ | śatarudriyamaṃtraistu prokṣitaṃ śāṃtimāpnuyāt

Translation

O great sages, one should bathe that Śiva-liṅga with that very water. When it is duly sprinkled and sanctified with the Śatarudrīya mantras, one attains peace—inner pacification and auspicious calm—through the grace of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• तत्-लिङ्गम्: that liṅga
• तत्-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (tasya liṅgam)

• तत्-जलेन: with that water
• तत्-जलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (tasya jalam)

• अभिषेचयेत्: should anoint/bathe
• अभिषेचयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-सिच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• परम-ऋषयः: the supreme sages
• परम-ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (paramāḥ ṛṣayaḥ)

• शत-रुद्रिय-मन्त्रैः: with Śatarudriya mantras
• शत-रुद्रिय-मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रुद्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (śatarudriyasya mantrāḥ)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis particle)

• प्रोक्षितम्: sprinkled/consecrated
• प्रोक्षितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-उक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गम्)

• शान्तिम्: peace
• शान्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• आप्नुयात्: should attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Abhiṣeka with sanctified water and Śatarudrīya is presented as a direct means to śānti—pacification of afflictions and stabilization of the mind for devotion.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śatarudrīya (Śrī Rudram) mantras

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Shatarudriya

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that consecrated water-offering to the Śiva-liṅga, empowered by Śatarudrīya mantras, brings śānti—pacification of disturbances and inward settling—through Śiva’s grace, aligning the devotee with auspiciousness and spiritual steadiness.

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

It presents the liṅga as Saguna Śiva’s accessible, sanctifying form: by abhiṣeka (ritual bathing) and mantra-prokṣaṇa (sprinkling with Vedic/Śaiva mantras), devotion becomes a concrete practice where the devotee approaches the transcendent Pati (Lord) through a sacred symbol.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform jalābhiṣeka (water abhiṣeka) to the liṅga and accompany it with Śatarudrīya mantra recitation/sprinkling (prokṣaṇa). The takeaway is mantra-infused offering—devotional action joined with sacred sound—to cultivate peace and auspiciousness.