Shloka 28

Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ

Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship

Devanagari script

खट्वांगश्च महाराजो देवसाहाय्यकारकः । विधितः पार्थिवीम्मूर्तिं शिवस्यापूजयत्सदा

Transliteration

khaṭvāṃgaśca mahārājo devasāhāyyakārakaḥ | vidhitaḥ pārthivīmmūrtiṃ śivasyāpūjayatsadā

Translation

King Khaṭvāṅga, the great monarch who aided the gods, would ever worship Lord Śiva according to the prescribed rites, venerating a Pārthiva mūrti—an earthen embodiment of Śiva.

Word by Word

• खट्वाङ्गः: Khaṭvāṅga
• खट्वाङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खट्वाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राजनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• महाराजः: great king
• महाराजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-राज (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: महा + राज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महान् राजा

• देवसाहाय्यकारकः: one who rendered help to the gods
• देवसाहाय्यकारकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव-साहाय्य-कारक (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: देव + साहाय्य + कारक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानां साहाय्यं (help to the gods) + कारक (maker/doer)

• विधितः: as prescribed
• विधितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि (कृदन्त; √धा (धातु) उपसर्ग वि + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (ordered/prescribed)

• पार्थिवीम्: earthen
• पार्थिवीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मूर्तिम्: image/form
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अपूजयत्: worshipped
• अपूजयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the merit of nitya-śivapūjā (daily Śiva worship) performed according to vidhi; emphasizes that even a simple earthen embodiment can become a locus of grace (anugraha) when approached with devotion and right procedure.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• King Khatvanga
• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that steadfast, rule-guided devotion (vidhi-yukta bhakti) to Śiva purifies the soul and aligns it with Pati (the Lord), showing that sincere daily worship—performed correctly—supports liberation-oriented life.

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

By mentioning a “pārthivī mūrti” (earthen form), the verse points to Saguna worship—approaching the formless Śiva through a sacred, tangible embodiment (often understood as a clay Linga or icon), which becomes a focused support for devotion and contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular Parthiva (clay/earth) Śiva worship performed with prescribed procedure—cleanliness, offerings, and mantra-recitation (commonly the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—emphasizing consistency (sadā) and correctness (vidhitaḥ).