Shloka 18

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

मनुना सौजीव इति देवतान्यासमाचरेत् । असौ योवसर्पतीति चाचरेदपसर्पणम्

Transliteration

manunā saujīva iti devatānyāsamācaret | asau yovasarpatīti cācaredapasarpaṇam

Translation

With the mantra beginning “saujīva” (taught by Manu), one should perform devatā-nyāsa, placing the deities upon one’s body. Then, with the formula “asau yo ’vasarpatī…”, one should perform apasarpaṇa, dismissing and driving away obstructive forces, so that Śiva’s worship may proceed without hindrance.

Word by Word

• मनुना: by (the) mantra / by Manu-mantra
• मनुना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• सौजीव: “saujīva” (mantra/utterance)
• सौजीव: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौजीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; used as mantra-name (quoted)

• इति: thus / saying
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय; quotative particle

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• न्यासम्: nyāsa (ritual placement)
• न्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• असौ: he / that one
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; Relative pronoun nominative singular

• वसर्पति: creeps away / departs
• वसर्पति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि/अव√सृप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय; quotative particle

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• अपसर्पणम्: the act of driving away / dismissal
• अपसर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपसर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: saujīva… (devatā-nyāsa); asau yo ’vasarpatī… (apasarpaṇa-mantra)

Characters & Entities

• Manu

FAQs

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

It teaches inner and outer purification before Śiva-upāsanā: nyāsa sanctifies the practitioner’s body as a fit seat for divine presence, while apasarpaṇa removes impediments (vighna) so devotion can become steady and one-pointed.

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is preceded by preparatory acts that align the devotee with Saguna Śiva’s worship-form; nyāsa invokes sacred powers into the limbs, and apasarpaṇa ensures the ritual space and mind are unobstructed for proper arcana of the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform devatā-nyāsa using the prescribed mantra, then do apasarpaṇa (a dismissive/warding act) with the indicated formula to drive away negativity and distractions before commencing Shiva japa, dhyāna, or Linga-pūjā.