Shloka 115

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

शिवस्य भक्त्या पूजा हि जन्ममुक्तिकरी नृणाम् । रुद्रा क्षधारणात्पादमर्धं वैभूतिधारणात्

Transliteration

śivasya bhaktyā pūjā hi janmamuktikarī nṛṇām | rudrā kṣadhāraṇātpādamardhaṃ vaibhūtidhāraṇāt

Translation

Worship of Lord Śiva performed with devotion is truly a cause of freedom from repeated birth for human beings. From wearing Rudrākṣa one gains a quarter of that merit, and from wearing the sacred ash (vibhūti) one gains half of it.

Word by Word

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; relation ‘of Śiva’

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; means/manner

• pūjā: worship
• pūjā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/causal particle (निपात)

• janma-mukti-karī: bringing liberation from birth
• janma-mukti-karī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: janma (प्रातिपदिक) + mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + karī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘causing liberation from birth’; agrees with ‘pūjā’

• nṛṇām: of men/for people
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; beneficiaries/possessive relation

• rudrākṣa-dhāraṇāt: from wearing rudrākṣa beads
• rudrākṣa-dhāraṇāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudrākṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; source/cause ‘from wearing rudrākṣa’

• pādam: a quarter (portion)
• pādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; measure/portion (one quarter)

• ardham: a half
• ardham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; measure ‘half’

• vaibhūti-dhāraṇāt: from wearing vibhūti (sacred ash)
• vaibhūti-dhāraṇāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaibhūti (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; source/cause ‘from wearing sacred ash’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General Śaiva dharma: bhakti-yukta pūjā is stated as the primary liberating cause; external marks (rudrākṣa, vibhūti) are auxiliary supports that strengthen identity as Śiva’s servant and reduce pāśa (bondage) through disciplined remembrance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It ranks devotion-filled Śiva-pūjā as a direct means toward janma-mukti (release from recurring birth), while also affirming that Shaiva marks like Rudrākṣa and vibhūti support the same goal as auxiliary disciplines.

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

Śiva-pūjā here primarily implies Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through accessible forms such as the Śiva-liṅga, with loving bhakti—through which the devotee is purified and led toward liberation by Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva-pūjā with bhakti, and adopt Shaiva observances: wear Rudrākṣa and apply vibhūti/Tripuṇḍra as constant reminders of Śiva, reinforcing mantra-japa and devotional steadiness.