Shloka 43

Devanagari script

पार्थिवेन विधानेन चकार नृपसत्तमः । तद्ध्यानं च यथा स्याद्वै कृत्वा च विधिपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

pārthivena vidhānena cakāra nṛpasattamaḥ | taddhyānaṃ ca yathā syādvai kṛtvā ca vidhipūrvakam

Translation

The best of kings performed the worship according to the earthen (Pārthiva) rite; and, having duly followed the prescribed procedure, he also carried out the proper meditation appropriate to that worship.

Word by Word

• पार्थिवेन: by an earthly (material)
• पार्थिवेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; ‘पार्थिव’ = earthly; साधनम्

• विधानेन: by a procedure, by a method
• विधानेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• चकार: did, performed
• चकार: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नृपसत्तमः: the best of kings
• नृपसत्तमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/nominative), एकवचन; समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नृपाणां सत्तमः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इति निर्देशक-विशेषणम्

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधकः (conjunction)

• यथा: as, in such a way that
• यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/उपमान-वाचकः (manner/comparative)

• स्यात्: may be, should be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चय/उपपादक-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधकः (conjunction)

• विधिपूर्वकम्: according to rule, duly
• विधिपूर्वकम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-आकारः क्रियाविशेषणत्वेन (adverbially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Within the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā’s broader Jyotirliṅga-oriented narration, this verse depicts a king performing regulated liṅga-worship through the Pārthiva (earthen/clay) method, a portable rite often used when a fixed shrine is not accessible.

Significance: Emphasizes that śāstra-guided procedure (vidhi) plus dhyāna makes worship efficacious; the merit is framed as Śiva’s readiness to bestow grace upon disciplined devotion.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship becomes complete when outer observance (vidhi) and inner contemplation (dhyāna) are united—devotion expressed through disciplined practice that purifies the mind toward Shiva, the Pati (Lord).

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

The Pārthiva rite implies worship of a tangible Linga made of earth, a Saguna support for devotion; the verse also stresses the matching inner meditation so the form-based worship leads the seeker toward Shiva’s deeper reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Pārthiva-Linga pūjā strictly according to injunctions (cleanliness, offerings, mantra), and accompany it with focused dhyāna on Lord Shiva—commonly supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) where applicable.