Shloka 26

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

तिथ्यादौ देवपूजा हि पूर्णभोगप्रदा नृणाम् । पूर्वभागः पितृणां तु निशि युक्तः प्रशस्यते

Transliteration

tithyādau devapūjā hi pūrṇabhogapradā nṛṇām | pūrvabhāgaḥ pitṛṇāṃ tu niśi yuktaḥ praśasyate

Translation

At the beginning of a tithi, worship of the Devas indeed grants people complete enjoyments and fulfillments. But for the Pitṛs (ancestral beings), the earlier part of the night, properly observed, is praised as the appropriate time.

Word by Word

• तिथि-आदौ: at the beginning of the tithi (etc.)
• तिथि-आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तिथि+आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; सप्तमी-एकवचनार्थे अव्यय: तिथ्यादौ = तिथौ आदौ (at the beginning of the tithi etc.)

• देवपूजा: worship of the gods
• देवपूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव+पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: देवानां पूजा (worship of the gods)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुवाचक (indeed/for)

• पूर्णभोगप्रदा: granting complete enjoyment
• पूर्णभोगप्रदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण+भोग+प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (देवपूजा); तत्पुरुष: पूर्णं भोगं प्रददाति इति (giver of complete enjoyment)

• नृणाम्: for/of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पूर्वभागः: the earlier part
• पूर्वभागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व+भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: पूर्वः भागः (the earlier part)

• पितृणाम्: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (locative: at night)

• युक्तः: associated/appropriate
• युक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (पूर्वभागः): युक्तः = संयोजितः/समन्वितः (endowed/associated)

• प्रशस्यते: is praised/commended
• प्रशस्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is praised/commended)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred acts bear fuller results when performed at the proper time: Deva-worship at the start of the tithi supports auspicious worldly and devotional fruition, while Pitṛ-related rites are best aligned with the early night, honoring cosmic order (ṛta) and dharma.

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

Though it mentions Deva-worship generally, within Shaiva practice the principle applies to Linga-pūjā as well: beginning a tithi with disciplined worship of Saguna Shiva (as the Linga) harmonizes the devotee’s conduct and strengthens the efficacy of vows and observances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Deva worship—such as Shiva Linga pūjā with mantra-japa (e.g., the Panchākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—at the start of the tithi; reserve Pitṛ offerings (tarpaṇa/śrāddha-related remembrance) for the early part of the night, done with purity and right intention.