Shloka 15

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya

The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga

Devanagari script

यथा देवीषु सर्वासु शैवीशक्तिः परास्मृता । तथा सर्वेषु लिंगेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते

Transliteration

yathā devīṣu sarvāsu śaivīśaktiḥ parāsmṛtā | tathā sarveṣu liṃgeṣu pārthivaṃ śreṣṭhamucyate

Translation

Just as among all goddesses the Śaiva Power (Śakti) is remembered as supreme, so too among all forms of the Liṅga the earthen (pārthiva) Liṅga is declared the most excellent (śreṣṭha).

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamāna-bodhaka (उपमानबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक

• devīṣu: among the goddesses
• devīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• sarvāsu: in all
• sarvāsu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of devīṣu)

• śaivī-śaktiḥ: Śaiva power (power of Śiva)
• śaivī-śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaivī (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'शैवी च सा शक्तिः'

• parā: supreme
• parā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of śaktiḥ)

• smṛtā: is considered/remembered
• smṛtā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• tathā: so, likewise
• tathā: Anvaya-bodhaka (अन्वयबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तथैव (correlative particle)

• sarveṣu: in all
• sarveṣu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of liṃgeṣu)

• liṃgeṣu: among the liṅgas
• liṃgeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṃga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• pārthivam: earthen (made of earth)
• pārthivam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (predicate adjective)

• śreṣṭham: best
• śreṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of pārthivam)

• ucyate: is said/called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

The verse elevates the Pārthiva (clay/earth) Liṅga as the most excellent support for devotion, emphasizing accessible, heartfelt worship where the devotee actively forms the symbol of Śiva and offers pūjā with concentrated bhakti.

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 the mind; among such supports, the earthen Liṅga is praised as especially meritorious because it is freshly fashioned and worshipped with immediacy, humility, and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pārthiva-liṅga pūjā: prepare a clean clay Liṅga, perform abhiṣeka and offerings, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady ध्यान (meditative focus), especially suitable for Mahāśivarātri observance.