Shloka 2

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । युष्मदर्थं प्रवक्ष्यामि बुद्ध्यतामवधानतः । अनुकूले शुभे काले पुण्ये तीर्थे तटे तथा

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | yuṣmadarthaṃ pravakṣyāmi buddhyatāmavadhānataḥ | anukūle śubhe kāle puṇye tīrthe taṭe tathā

Translation

Sūta said: “For your sake I shall expound it—grasp it with attentive discernment—(to be performed) at a favorable and auspicious time, and likewise at a holy tīrtha, upon its sacred bank.”

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

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

• युष्मदर्थम्: for your sake
• युष्मदर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Acc. sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (युष्माकम् अर्थः) ‘for your sake’

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन (1st sg.)

• बुद्ध्यताम्: please understand
• बुद्ध्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन (2nd pl.); ‘understand/please understand’

• अवधानतः: attentively
• अवधानतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त/ablatival adverb: ‘from/with attentiveness’ = ‘attentively’)

• अनुकूले: in a favorable (time)
• अनुकूले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Loc. sg.); विशेषणम् (of काले/समये)

• शुभे: in an auspicious (time)
• शुभे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Loc. sg.); विशेषणम् (of काले)

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Loc. sg.)

• पुण्ये: in a holy (place)
• पुण्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextual), सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Loc. sg.); विशेषणम् (of तीर्थे)

• तीर्थे: at a pilgrimage place
• तीर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Loc. sg.)

• तटे: on the bank (of a river)
• तटे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Loc. sg.)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक: ‘also/likewise’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General tīrtha emphasis: installation and worship are best undertaken at puṇya-tīrthas and riverbanks, echoing Purāṇic practice of consecrations near sacred waters.

Significance: Highlights tīrtha-sevā and auspicious timing as supportive conditions (sahakāri-kāraṇa) for successful liṅga-pratiṣṭhā and worship, believed to accelerate merit and receptivity to grace.

FAQs

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

It frames Shaiva instruction as something to be received with avadhāna (focused attention) and practiced with dharmic alignment—right intention, right time, and sanctified setting—so the devotee’s mind becomes fit for Shiva’s grace.

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

By emphasizing auspicious time and tīrtha, the verse supports the Purāṇic approach to Saguna Shiva worship—approaching the Linga with purity, place-sanctity, and reverent preparedness to make devotion effective and concentrated.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Choose an auspicious time and a pure, sacred place (especially a tīrtha-bank), then listen/recite with attentive focus—setting the foundation for mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara) and orderly Shiva-pūjā.