Shloka 2

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

सूत्रोक्तविधिना स्नात्वा संध्यां कृत्वा यथाविधि । ब्रह्मयज्ञं विधायादौ ततस्तर्प्पणमाचरेत्

Transliteration

sūtroktavidhinā snātvā saṃdhyāṃ kṛtvā yathāvidhi | brahmayajñaṃ vidhāyādau tatastarppaṇamācaret

Translation

Having bathed in the manner prescribed in the sūtras and duly performed the Sandhyā rites, one should first complete the Brahma-yajña; thereafter, one should perform tarpaṇa, the reverent libations of water.

Word by Word

• सूत्रोक्तविधिना: by the rule stated in the sūtra
• सूत्रोक्तविधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र + उक्त + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सूत्रे उक्तः विधिः)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having bathed’

• संध्याम्: the twilight-prayer (sandhyā)
• संध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having done’

• यथा-विधि: according to rule
• यथा-विधि: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)

• ब्रह्मयज्ञम्: the Brahma-yajña (Veda-recitation rite)
• ब्रह्मयज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः यज्ञः)

• विधाय: having performed
• विधाय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) उपसर्गः वि-
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) of √धा with वि-; ‘having performed/arranged’

• आदौ: at first
• आदौ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (locative used adverbially)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• तर्पणम्: libation/oblations (tarpaṇa)
• तर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) उपसर्गः आ-
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should practice/perform’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship is supported by inner and outer purity: disciplined daily rites (bath, Sandhyā, Brahma-yajña, tarpaṇa) steady the mind and align one’s life with dharma, making devotion to Pati (Shiva) fruitful.

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

These acts are preparatory purifications before approaching Saguna Shiva in the form of the Liṅga; they establish ritual fitness (adhikāra) so that Liṅga-pūjā is performed with steadiness, reverence, and scriptural correctness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A daily sequence is implied: bathe, perform Sandhyā worship, recite/study sacred knowledge as Brahma-yajña, and then do tarpaṇa; after this foundation, one may proceed to Shaiva practices such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra), rudrākṣa, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).