Shloka 34
अवंतीस्थ-ब्राह्मणकथा तथा तृतीय-ज्योतिर्लिङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावना
Avanti Brahmin Narrative and Prelude to the Third Jyotirliṅga
सूत उवाच । इति धैर्यं समास्थाय समर्चां पार्थिवस्य च । कृत्वा ते च द्विजाः सम्यक्स्थिता ध्यानपरायणाः । दृष्टा दैत्येन तावच्च ते विप्रास्सबलेन हि
sūta uvāca | iti dhairyaṃ samāsthāya samarcāṃ pārthivasya ca | kṛtvā te ca dvijāḥ samyaksthitā dhyānaparāyaṇāḥ | dṛṣṭā daityena tāvacca te viprāssabalena hi
Sūta said: “Thus, having gathered their courage and duly performed the worship of the earthen (pārthiva) form, those twice-born brāhmaṇas stood firmly, wholly devoted to meditation. At that very moment, however, those brāhmaṇas were seen by the daitya, who had his forces with him.”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Sthala Purana: Pārthiva-liṅga worship episode: brāhmaṇas fashion and worship an earthen liṅga as immediate śaraṇāgati-prayoga; Śiva’s grace is invoked amid asuric threat.
Significance: Models the efficacy of pārthiva-liṅga pūjā and dhyāna under संकट: steadiness and worship invite Śiva’s protective anugraha.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights steadiness (dhairya) and single-pointed meditation after proper worship—showing that Shaiva practice is not merely ritual, but culminates in dhyāna, even when adversity approaches.
The “pārthiva” worship indicates a tangible, saguna mode of approaching Shiva through an earthen Liṅga; after the external offering, the devotees stabilize inwardly in contemplation, uniting pūjā with inner realization.
It suggests completing Parthiva Liṅga pūjā and then remaining “dhyāna-parāyaṇa”—sitting steadily for meditation, maintaining courage and focus despite distractions or threats.