Shloka 5

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya

The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga

Devanagari script

हरिर्ब्रह्मा च ऋषयः सप्रजापतयस्तथा । संपूज्य पार्थिवं लिंगं प्रापुःसर्वेप्सितं द्विजाः

Transliteration

harirbrahmā ca ṛṣayaḥ saprajāpatayastathā | saṃpūjya pārthivaṃ liṃgaṃ prāpuḥsarvepsitaṃ dvijāḥ

Translation

Hari (Viṣṇu), Brahmā, the sages, and the Prajāpatis as well—having duly worshipped the earthen (pārthiva) Liṅga—attained, O twice-born ones, all that they had desired.

Word by Word

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सप्रजापतयः: together with the Prajāpatis
• सप्रजापतयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (प्रजापतिभिः सह)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• पार्थिवम्: earthen
• पार्थिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

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

• प्रापुः: attained
• प्रापुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वेप्सितम्: what is desired by all
• सर्वेप्सितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईप्सित (इष्/आप्-धातुजन्य क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वैः ईप्सितम् = desired by all)

• द्विजाः: twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Rishis
• Prajapatis

FAQs

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

It declares the universality and efficacy of Śiva-bhakti through Liṅga-pūjā: even the highest cosmic authorities (Viṣṇu, Brahmā, sages, Prajāpatis) attained their aims by worshipping the pārthiva (earthen) Liṅga, showing that sincere devotion to Pati (Śiva) loosens pāśa (bondage) and grants both worldly and spiritual fulfillments.

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

The ‘pārthiva liṅga’ is a tangible, saguna support for worship—Śiva graciously accepts form-based devotion for the devotee’s purification. The verse teaches that approaching Śiva through the Liṅga with proper reverence leads to siddhi (desired attainments) and prepares the seeker for higher realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to performing pārthiva-liṅga pūjā—fashioning a Liṅga from clean earth and worshipping it with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offerings, and heartfelt devotion; this is especially aligned with Shiva Purana rituals for Mahashivratri.