Shloka 17

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

सिषेवे सा च सततं तं मुदा मुनिसत्तमम् । पार्थिवं सुन्दरं कृत्वा मंत्रेण विधि पूर्वकम्

Transliteration

siṣeve sā ca satataṃ taṃ mudā munisattamam | pārthivaṃ sundaraṃ kṛtvā maṃtreṇa vidhi pūrvakam

Translation

Rejoicing, she continually served that foremost of sages. She fashioned a beautiful earthen liṅga and, with mantra, performed worship according to proper rule and rite, fulfilling the prescribed observances.

Word by Word

• सिषेवे: served, attended
• सिषेवे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (√सेव् धातु; लिट्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (adverbial accusative/avyaya usage)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण/Means; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• मुनिसत्तमम्: the best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; appositive to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘मुनिः सत्तमः’ (best of sages)

• पार्थिवम्: an earthen (image/linga)
• पार्थिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of कृत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक (earthen object/linga)

• सुन्दरम्: beautiful
• सुन्दरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पार्थिवम्)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (√कृ धातु; त्वा-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having made’

• मन्त्रेण: by a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• विधि: the prescribed rule, procedure
• विधि: Karma (कर्म/Object; of implied ‘अनुसृत्य/कृत्वा’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (पाठे ‘विधि’ = ‘विधिम्’ अर्थे; छन्दसि/पदच्छेदे लोपः)

• पूर्वकम्: according to, in due manner
• पूर्वकम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (adverbial usage: in accordance with)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse reflects a common purāṇic/āgamic pattern: a devotee fashions a pārthiva-liṅga (earthen liṅga) and worships with mantra and vidhi, leading to Śiva’s prasāda; it is not tied here to a specific Jyotirliṅga origin episode.

Significance: Pārthiva-liṅga worship is presented as accessible sādhana: even without a temple icon, correct vidhi and mantra with bhāva can draw Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• a foremost sage (munisattama)
• earthen Linga (parthiva)

FAQs

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

It highlights Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on disciplined devotion: joyful, continuous service (seva) combined with scripturally guided worship (vidhi) and mantra transforms ordinary action into purifying sadhana directed to Pati (Shiva).

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

By mentioning the beautiful earthen form (pārthiva), the verse points to saguna-upasana—approaching Shiva through the tangible Linga as a sanctified support for devotion, mantra, and concentration, which leads the worshipper toward Shiva’s higher, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Parthiva-Linga puja: fashion an earthen Shiva Linga, worship it with mantra (e.g., Panchakshara) and follow proper ritual procedure (vidhi), cultivating steady remembrance and reverent attention.