Shloka 18

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya

The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga

Devanagari script

यथा लब्धोपचारैश्च भक्त्या श्रद्धासमन्वितः । पूजयेत्पार्थिवं लिंगं सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदम्

Transliteration

yathā labdhopacāraiśca bhaktyā śraddhāsamanvitaḥ | pūjayetpārthivaṃ liṃgaṃ sarvakāmārthasiddhidam

Translation

With whatever offerings one has obtained, and with devotion joined to faith, one should worship Śiva’s earthen (pārthiva) Liṅga—for it bestows the fulfillment of all rightful aims and desired ends.

Word by Word

• yathā: as; in the manner that
• yathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb/conjunction (अव्यय; यथार्थे/प्रकारे)

• labdha: obtained
• labdha: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग/Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle/क्त (कृदन्त), Stem form as prior member in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• upacāraiḥ: with offerings/services
• upacāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: labdha-upacāra ("with obtained/available offerings")

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śraddhā: faith
• śraddhā: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Stem form as prior member in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• samanvitaḥ: endowed with faith
• samanvitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; worshipper)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samanvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle/क्त (कृदन्त) from सम्+√i (or समन्वि-), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: śraddhā-samanvita ("endowed with faith")

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• pārthivam: earthen; made of clay
• pārthivam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• liṅgam: liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva: all
• sarva: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग/Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Stem form as prior member in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• kāma: desire
• kāma: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Stem form as prior member in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• artha: aim; object; purpose
• artha: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Stem form as prior member in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• siddhi: attainment; success
• siddhi: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Stem form as prior member in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• dam: granting fulfillment of all desires and aims
• dam: Karma (कर्म/Object; predicate to liṅgam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: sarva-kāma-artha-siddhi-da ("giver of success in all desired aims")

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva accepts worship performed with sincere bhakti and śraddhā, even when the devotee has only simple, available offerings—emphasizing inner devotion over display.

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

The pārthiva-liṅga is a tangible, saguna support for devotion: by honoring the Liṅga with faith, the devotee approaches Śiva’s grace through a concrete ritual form that steadies mind and heart.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform simple Liṅga-pūjā with whatever upacāras are available, maintaining steady devotion and faith; mentally offer reverence if materials are limited, keeping awareness fixed on Śiva.