Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

महेश्वर उवाच । हे देवा ऋषयः सर्वे मद्वचः शृणुतादरात् । योनिरूपेण मल्लिंगं धृतं चेत्स्यात्तदा सुखम्

Transliteration

maheśvara uvāca | he devā ṛṣayaḥ sarve madvacaḥ śṛṇutādarāt | yonirūpeṇa malliṃgaṃ dhṛtaṃ cetsyāttadā sukham

Translation

Mahēśvara said: “O gods and all sages, listen attentively to my words. If my Liṅga is installed and held in the form of the Yoni, then there arises well-being and auspicious ease.”

Word by Word

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• हे: O
• हे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हे (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधनार्थक अव्यय (vocative particle)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण of देवाः/ऋषयः

• मत्-वचः: my word(s)
• मत्-वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शृणुत: listen (you all)
• शृणुत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• आदरात्: with respect/earnestly
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); हेत्वर्थ (because of/with)

• योनि-रूपेण: in the form of a yoni
• योनि-रूपेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मत्-लिङ्गम्: my liṅga
• मत्-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); here as कर्म of धृतम् (understood)

• धृतम्: held/borne
• धृतम्: Kriyā (क्रियासाधन/participial predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Singular); conditional clause predicate

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शर्तार्थक (conditional particle: if)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Potential), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (then)

• सुखम्: happiness/ease
• सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता; predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Maheshvara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Instructional sthala-motif: Śiva teaches devas/ṛṣis that liṅga-sthāpana with yoni (śakti-pīṭha/base) yields sukha/auspiciousness—emphasizing liṅga as Śiva-tattva and yoni as Śakti/ādhāra.

Significance: Frames the normative iconography of liṅga with pīṭha/āvudai (yoni) as a complete symbol of Śiva-Śakti; worship of the complete form is said to bring sukha and śubha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

Shiva emphasizes reverent listening and correct worship: installing the Liṅga with its Yoni-base symbolizes the ordered union of consciousness (Śiva) and manifest power (Śakti), bringing auspiciousness and inner well-being that supports the soul’s movement toward liberation.

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

It directly teaches a concrete form of Saguna worship—Liṅga-pūjā with proper installation. The Liṅga becomes an accessible icon for devotion and concentration, through which the devotee approaches the transcendent (Nirguṇa) Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga worship with proper installation on the Yoni-pīṭha, accompanied by attentive devotion—ideally with pañcākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady, respectful contemplation during pūjā.