Shloka 28

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

देवकार्ये तथा ग्राह्यास्थिति ऋक्षादिकाः शुभाः । सम्यग्विचार्य वारादीन्कुर्यात्पूजाजपादिकम्

Transliteration

devakārye tathā grāhyāsthiti ṛkṣādikāḥ śubhāḥ | samyagvicārya vārādīnkuryātpūjājapādikam

Translation

In divine rites, one should duly accept only auspicious conditions—such as favorable nakṣatras (lunar mansions) and related factors. After carefully considering the weekday and other timing elements, one should then perform worship, japa, and the other devotional observances for Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• देवकार्ये: in divine rites/for god-related work
• देवकार्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः देव-कार्य (तत्पुरुष)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय/adverb (in that manner/also)

• ग्राह्या: should be accepted
• ग्राह्या: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत्/ण्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: gerundive; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विधेय)

• स्थितिः: the state/position (proper time/condition)
• स्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ऋक्षादिकाः: nakṣatras etc.
• ऋक्षादिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक्ष-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः ऋक्ष-आदि (तत्पुरुष)

• शुभाः: auspicious
• शुभाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (ऋक्षादिकाः)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय/adverb (properly)

• विचार्य: having considered
• विचार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययीभाव-रूप (absolutive/gerund); ‘having considered’

• वारादीन्: weekdays etc.
• वारादीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः वार-आदि (तत्पुरुष)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पूजाजपादिकम्: worship, recitation, etc.
• पूजाजपादिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा-जप-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः पूजा + जप (द्वन्द्व) + आदि (तत्पुरुष-प्राय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Śiva should be guided by śāstric order: aligning one’s worship with auspicious time factors strengthens focus, purity (śuddhi), and steadiness in bhakti, making puja and japa more effective for inner upliftment.

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

Liṅga-worship is a structured saguna upāsanā where external correctness supports internal contemplation. By choosing auspicious nakṣatra/weekday and then doing pūjā and japa, the devotee honors Śiva’s manifest presence (arcā/liṅga) while cultivating inward remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse explicitly recommends pūjā (ritual worship) and japa (mantra repetition) performed after considering auspicious nakṣatra and weekday—practically, this includes doing Shiva-puja and steady Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) at an appropriate time.