Shloka 33

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya

The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga

Devanagari script

द्विखंडं तु चरां लिंगं कुर्वन्त्यज्ञानमोहिताः । नैव सिद्धान्तवेत्तारो मुनयः शास्त्रकोविदाः

Transliteration

dvikhaṃḍaṃ tu carāṃ liṃgaṃ kurvantyajñānamohitāḥ | naiva siddhāntavettāro munayaḥ śāstrakovidāḥ

Translation

Deluded by ignorance, some fashion the moveable Liṅga into two separate parts. But the sages who know the Siddhānta—those truly skilled in the śāstras—do not accept such a practice.

Word by Word

• द्विखण्डम्: two-part, bifurcated
• द्विखण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• चराम्: movable/going (as described)
• चराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga, emblem
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुर्वन्ति: they make/do
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अज्ञानमोहिताः: deluded by ignorance
• अज्ञानमोहिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञान + मोहित (कृदन्त; मुह् धातु से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त-विशेषण (past passive participle)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• सिद्धान्तवेत्तारः: knowers of doctrine/conclusion
• सिद्धान्तवेत्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धान्त + वेत्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शास्त्रकोविदाः: experts in the scriptures
• शास्त्रकोविदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A polemical note within ritual doctrine: making a portable liṅga two-part is attributed to ajñāna-moha; Siddhānta-knowers reject it.

Significance: Warns that ritual error stems from ignorance (pāśa) and can blunt the intended spiritual fruit; encourages reliance on śāstra and competent ācāryas.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that ignorance distorts worship: the Linga is to be approached with scriptural understanding (Siddhānta), where correct form supports right contemplation of Śiva as Pati and grants steadiness in devotion.

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

The verse defends orthodox Linga-worship: the moveable Linga used in daily pūjā should not be altered into an invented two-part form, because Saguna worship must align with śāstra so the mind can properly rest in Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Follow śāstra-guided Linga-pūjā with disciplined purity and mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—rather than improvising forms; let correct ritual support inner dhyāna on Śiva.