Shloka 75

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

कर्पूरखुरचूर्णेन पंचसौगंधिकैर्युतम् । तांबूलयुक्तं तु यदा महानैवेद्यलक्षणम्

Transliteration

karpūrakhuracūrṇena paṃcasaugaṃdhikairyutam | tāṃbūlayuktaṃ tu yadā mahānaivedyalakṣaṇam

Translation

When the offering is prepared with camphor and fine aromatic powder, blended with the five fragrances, and accompanied by tāmbūla (betel), it is recognized as the hallmark of a “great naivedya”—a superior ritual food-offering in the worship of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• कर्पूर-खुर-चूर्णेन: with camphor-khura powder
• कर्पूर-खुर-चूर्णेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक) + खुर (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'with powder of camphor and khura (fragrant substance)'

• पञ्च-सौगन्धिकैः: with five aromatics
• पञ्च-सौगन्धिकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + सौगन्धिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Plural; द्विगु-समास: 'with five aromatics/perfumes'

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

• ताम्बूल-युक्तम्: combined with betel
• ताम्बूल-युक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'joined with betel'

• तु: but / then
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात), contrastive

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable temporal conjunction/adverb

• महानैवेद्य-लक्षणम्: the mark/definition of a great offering (naivedya)
• महानैवेद्य-लक्षणम्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'characteristic/definition of great naivedya'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Viśveśvara frame treats refined upacāras (gandha, dhūpa, dīpa, naivedya, tāmbūla) as markers of complete worship; ‘mahānaivedya’ here is defined by purity, fragrance, and completeness.

Significance: Offering fragrant, pure naivedya and tāmbūla symbolizes surrender of sensory enjoyments to the Lord; receiving prasāda is understood as Śiva’s gracious acceptance.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the qualities of a refined naivedya, showing that devotion (bhakti) is expressed through purity, fragrance, and completeness of offering—made for Śiva with reverence and auspiciousness.

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

In Liṅga/Saguṇa worship, the Lord is honored as a present divine recipient; offering fragrant, sattvic naivedya and tāmbūla is part of upacāra that externalizes inner devotion and respect toward Śiva’s manifest form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to offer a well-scented naivedya (with traditional fragrances) and conclude with tāmbūla as an upacāra, while maintaining a focused, devotional mind—often alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).