Shloka 74

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

नारिकेलफलादीनां तथा गणनया सह । द्वादशक्रमुकैर्युक्तं षट्त्रिंशत्पत्रकैर्युतम्

Transliteration

nārikelaphalādīnāṃ tathā gaṇanayā saha | dvādaśakramukairyuktaṃ ṣaṭtriṃśatpatrakairyutam

Translation

Along with coconuts and other fruits, duly counted and arranged, it should be furnished with twelve areca-nuts and accompanied by thirty-six leaves (as prescribed), as part of the proper offering in the worship of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• नारिकेल-फल-आदीनाम्: of coconuts, fruits, etc.
• नारिकेल-फल-आदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारिकेल (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th—षष्ठी), Plural; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'of coconuts, fruits, etc.'

• तथा: also / likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb

• गणनया: with counting / by enumeration
• गणनया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Singular

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable postposition; 'with' (सह-योगे)

• द्वादश-क्रमुकैः: with twelve areca-nuts
• द्वादश-क्रमुकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + क्रमुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Plural; द्विगु-समास: 'with twelve areca-nuts'

• युक्तम्: joined/combined; furnished with
• युक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with implied offering/object

• षट्-त्रिंशत्-पत्रकैः: with thirty-six leaves/leaflets
• षट्-त्रिंशत्-पत्रकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + त्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Plural; द्विगु-समास: 'with thirty-six leaflets'

• युतम्: endowed with
• युतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √यु धातु/√युज्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; 'endowed with'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā, the ritual code is framed around Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha of Kāśī, where Śiva is praised as the Lord granting liberation; offerings (naivedya, tāmbūla, etc.) are treated as upacāras that culminate in prasāda and grace.

Significance: Offering and receiving prasāda at Kāśī Viśvanātha is held to strengthen bhakti and invoke Śiva’s anugraha; the larger Kāśī frame emphasizes liberation (mokṣa) as the highest fruit beyond ritual merits.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion to Śiva is expressed through disciplined, mindful offering—where even counting and correct arrangement become a form of reverence (bhakti guided by vidhi).

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

The verse supports saguna worship of Śiva in the Liṅga through prescribed upacāras (ritual services), teaching that external offerings, when properly ordered, help steady the mind toward Śiva as Pati, the liberator.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to prepare Śiva-pūjā offerings in a measured, rule-based way—collect fruits, leaves, and accompanying items in the stated numbers—while maintaining focused remembrance of Śiva (often alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).