Shloka 55

Devanagari script

कृतेध्यानाज्ज्ञानसिद्धिस्त्रेतायां तपसा तथा । द्वापरे यजनाज्ज्ञानं प्रतिमापूजया कलौ

Transliteration

kṛtedhyānājjñānasiddhistretāyāṃ tapasā tathā | dvāpare yajanājjñānaṃ pratimāpūjayā kalau

Translation

In the Kṛta Yuga, spiritual knowledge is attained through meditation; in the Tretā Yuga, likewise through austerity. In the Dvāpara Yuga, knowledge is gained through sacrificial worship (yajña); and in the Kali Yuga, it is gained through the worship of the Lord’s sacred image (pratimā).

Word by Word

• kṛte: in the Kṛta (age)
• kṛte: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kr̥ta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in Kṛta(-yuga)’ (कृते युगे)

• dhyānāt: from meditation; by meditation
• dhyānāt: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• jñāna-siddhiḥ: attainment of knowledge
• jñāna-siddhiḥ: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ज्ञानस्य सिद्धिः

• tretāyām: in the Tretā (age)
• tretāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tretā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in Tretā(-yuga)’

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tathā: likewise; similarly
• tathā: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• dvāpare: in the Dvāpara (age)
• dvāpare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāpara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in Dvāpara(-yuga)’

• yajanāt: from sacrifice; by sacrifice
• yajanāt: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) or Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; here as subject (प्रथमा) understood with ‘(bhavati)’

• pratimā-pūjayā: by worship of an image
• pratimā-pūjayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratimā (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): प्रतिमायाः पूजा

• kalau: in the Kali (age)
• kalau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in Kali(-yuga)’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse gives a yuga-wise upāya (means) for jñāna—dhyāna/tapas/yajña/pratimā-pūjā—framing Kali-yuga accessibility through icon/arcā worship.

Significance: Establishes pratimā/arcā worship as a valid Kali-yuga means to jñāna, encouraging temple-based devotion as a direct soteriological aid.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Yuga-cycle pedagogy: Kṛta–Tretā–Dvāpara–Kali delineation of dominant sādhanā.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the primary discipline for realizing liberating knowledge changes by yuga: meditation in Kṛta, austerity in Tretā, yajña in Dvāpara, and accessible devotional worship in Kali—showing Śiva’s compassion in providing an attainable path suited to the age.

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

By affirming pratimā-pūjā in Kali Yuga, it supports Saguna worship—such as Śiva-liṅga worship—as a valid and powerful means to purify the soul (paśu), loosen bonds (pāśa), and lead toward the knowledge of Pati (Śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

For Kali Yuga, the takeaway is regular Śiva pratimā/Śivaliṅga pūjā with devotion—supported by mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple, sincere offerings as one’s capacity allows.