Shloka 57

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

वंध्या सुपुत्रं लभते स्वर्णरौप्यादिदानतः । कृत्तिकाशनिवारेषु दिक्पालानां च वंदनम्

Transliteration

vaṃdhyā suputraṃ labhate svarṇaraupyādidānataḥ | kṛttikāśanivāreṣu dikpālānāṃ ca vaṃdanam

Translation

A barren woman attains a virtuous son through the gift of gold, silver, and the like; and on the Kṛttikā day and on Saturdays, one should offer reverent salutations to the Guardians of the Directions.

Word by Word

• vaṃdhyā: a barren woman
• vaṃdhyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (प्रथमा/1st case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• suputram: a good son
• suputram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suputra (सु+पुत्र) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/2nd case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• labhate: obtains
• labhate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (लभ्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Ekavacana (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• svarṇa-raūpya-ādi-dānataḥ: from (the act of) giving gold, silver, etc.
• svarṇa-raūpya-ādi-dānataḥ: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarṇa + raupya + ādi + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) ‘dāna’ understood; Pañcamī vibhakti (पञ्चमी/5th case, ablative), Ekavacana (एकवचन); ‘ādi’ = “etc.” within compound

• kṛttikā-śani-vāreṣu: on Kṛttikā (nakṣatra) and on Saturdays
• kṛttikā-śani-vāreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛttikā + śani-vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग) (vāra), Saptamī vibhakti (सप्तमी/7th case, locative), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• dikpālānām: of the guardians of the directions
• dikpālānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dik + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (षष्ठी/6th case, genitive), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha-sūcaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avya ya (समुच्चय-अव्यय/Conjunction)

• vaṃdanam: salutation, worship
• vaṃdanam: Karta/Pradhāna-kriyā-nāma (कर्ता/मुख्यकर्म-नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṃdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (प्रथमा/1st case), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it links specific dāna (gold/silver) with putra-lābha and prescribes salutations to Dikpālas on Kṛttikā/Saturday.

Significance: Frames fertility/offspring as a fruit of dharmic giving; adds protective cosmology via Dikpāla-vandana (directional guardians).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Dikpalas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that dharmic charity (dāna) and disciplined observances generate puṇya that helps remove karmic obstacles, bringing worldly welfare while supporting the Shaiva path of purification and devotion.

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

In Shaiva practice, outer supports—charity, vows, and honoring cosmic guardians—prepare the devotee for focused Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-pūjā) by cultivating humility, order, and karmic clarity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dāna (gifting gold, silver, or suitable substitutes according to means) and offer respectful salutations to the Dikpālas on Kṛttikā and Saturdays as a disciplined observance alongside Shiva-bhakti.