Shloka 13

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya

The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga

Devanagari script

यथा पुरीषु सर्वासु काशीश्रेष्ठतमा स्मृता । तथा सर्वेषु लिंगेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते

Transliteration

yathā purīṣu sarvāsu kāśīśreṣṭhatamā smṛtā | tathā sarveṣu liṃgeṣu pārthivaṃ śreṣṭhamucyate

Translation

Just as Kāśī is remembered as the most excellent among all sacred cities, so too among all Liṅgas the earthen (pārthiva) Liṅga is declared the best for worship.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/उपमा-बोधक अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison: 'just as')

• पुरीषु: among the cities
• पुरीषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (plural)

• सर्वासु: in all
• सर्वासु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'पुरीषु')

• काशी-श्रेष्ठतमा: Kāśī (is) the most excellent
• काशी-श्रेष्ठतमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāśī (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭhatama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'काश्याः श्रेष्ठतमा'

• स्मृता: is remembered (as)
• स्मृता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोग (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'is remembered/called'

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: तुलना/अन्वय-बोधक अव्यय (correlative: 'so/likewise')

• सर्वेषु: among all
• सर्वेषु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'लिङ्गेषु')

• लिङ्गेषु: among the liṅgas
• लिङ्गेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पार्थिवम्: the earthen (liṅga)
• पार्थिवम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (predicate nominative)

• श्रेष्ठम्: the best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is invoked as ‘best of cities’; within Śaiva tradition Kāśī is Śiva’s own kṣetra where liberation is granted (taraka-mantra at death) and Viśvanātha is the presiding Jyotirliṅga. The verse leverages Kāśī’s superlative sanctity to elevate the pārthiva-liṅga’s worship-status.

Significance: Kāśī/Viśvanātha darśana is famed for mokṣa-oriented merit; by analogy, sincere worship of a clay liṅga is taught to confer exceptional spiritual fruit even outside the kṣetra.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kashi

FAQs

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

The verse elevates simple, accessible devotion: like Kāśī’s unsurpassed sanctity, the earthen Liṅga is praised because it supports humble, concentrated worship of Pati (Śiva), helping the bound soul (paśu) loosen pāśa (bondage) through bhakti and purity of intention.

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

It affirms Saguna upāsanā through the Liṅga as a concrete focus for meditation and offering. The pārthiva Liṅga, being formed by the devotee, intensifies personal surrender and makes Śiva’s grace approachable in daily practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Make a small clay/earth Liṅga (pārthiva), worship it with water, bilva leaves, and the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” maintaining inner purity; this is especially aligned with Mahāśivarātri vrata and Liṅga-abhiṣeka practice.