Shloka 73

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

तदूर्ध्वं हि व्रजंत्येव निष्कामा लिंगपूजकाः । तदर्वाक्परिवर्तंते शिवान्यसुरपूजकाः

Transliteration

tadūrdhvaṃ hi vrajaṃtyeva niṣkāmā liṃgapūjakāḥ | tadarvākparivartaṃte śivānyasurapūjakāḥ

Translation

Indeed, the desireless devotees who worship the Śiva-liṅga ascend toward the higher divine state; but those who worship other deities and the asuras turn back downward into lower courses of existence.

Word by Word

• तद्-ऊर्ध्वम्: above that
• तद्-ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् (adverb): 'above that'

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• व्रजन्ति: they go
• व्रजन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (only/indeed)

• निष्कामाः: the desireless (people)
• निष्कामाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; गुणवाचक-नाम (desireless ones)

• लिङ्ग-पूजकाः: liṅga-worshippers
• लिङ्ग-पूजकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: लिङ्गस्य पूजकाः (worshippers of the liṅga)

• तद्-अर्वाक्: below that
• तद्-अर्वाक्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्वाक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् (adverb): 'below that'

• परिवर्तन्ते: they revolve/return
• परिवर्तन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• शिव-अन्य-असुर-पूजकाः: worshippers of asuras other than Śiva
• शिव-अन्य-असुर-पूजकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: शिवात् अन्याः असुराः (non-Śiva demons/other asuras) तेषां पूजकाः (worshippers)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General liṅga-upāsanā teaching: niṣkāma liṅga-pūjā leads upward; diversion to other devatās/asuric powers is portrayed as a downward-turning course.

Significance: Affirms liṅga worship as a direct Śaiva means (upāya) when performed without desire; warns against fruit-seeking syncretism that dilutes Śiva-niṣṭhā.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Asuras

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that niṣkāma (desireless) devotion to Śiva—especially through liṅga-pūjā—elevates the soul toward liberation, while desire-driven or misdirected worship leads to continued downward return in saṃsāra.

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

It presents the Śiva-liṅga as the primary saguna support for worship that purifies intention; when worship is offered without craving for results, it becomes a direct means for rising toward Śiva’s grace and higher attainment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice liṅga-pūjā with niṣkāma bhāva—offer water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) without seeking worldly rewards, focusing instead on inner purification and surrender to Śiva.