Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

पूजोपकरणे दत्ते यत्किंचित्फलमश्नुते । प्रदक्षिणानमस्कारैः क्रमाच्छिवपदप्रदम्

Transliteration

pūjopakaraṇe datte yatkiṃcitphalamaśnute | pradakṣiṇānamaskāraiḥ kramācchivapadapradam

Translation

When one offers even a small item connected with worship, one partakes of some spiritual fruit. Through pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation) and namaskāra (reverential prostrations), performed in due order, that merit gradually becomes a bestower of Śivapada—the state of Śiva.

Word by Word

• पूजोपकरणे: in the worship-implements
• पूजोपकरणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + उपकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘in/with the implements of worship’

• दत्ते: when given/offered
• दत्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्त (क्त; कृदन्त) / दत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘when/if given’ (qualifying pūjopakaraṇe)

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; relative pronoun ‘whatever’

• किञ्चित्: some/any
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक सर्वनाम ‘some/any’

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• अश्नुते: obtains/enjoys
• अश्नुते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रदक्षिणानमस्कारैः: by circumambulations and salutations
• प्रदक्षिणानमस्कारैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक) + नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; द्वन्द्वः ‘by circumambulations and salutations’

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; ablative singular used adverbially

• शिवपदप्रदम्: granting the state of Śiva
• शिवपदप्रदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘giver of Śiva-state’; here qualifying (the act/result)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching of the Vidyeshvara Samhita to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General liṅga-pūjā teaching: even small offerings and bodily acts of reverence (pradakṣiṇā, namaskāra) accumulate into liberation-bestowing merit through Śiva’s grace.

Significance: Highlights bhakti accessible to all: minimal material capacity still yields fruit; repeated circumambulation and prostration mature into Śivapada by gradual purification and grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even minimal, sincere participation in Shiva-puja generates merit, and that repeated acts of devotion—especially pradakshina and namaskara—purify the soul and, by Shiva’s grace, mature into liberation (Shivapada).

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

Circumambulation and prostration are classic auxiliaries of Linga-worship (Saguna upasana). The verse affirms that bodily acts performed with devotion toward Shiva’s manifest form accumulate merit that culminates in realizing Shiva’s supreme state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer any worship article with devotion, then perform pradakshina and namaskara regularly—especially around the Shiva Linga—letting the practice become steady and gradual (kramāt) toward inner surrender and liberation.