Shloka 24

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

या ते हेतिरिति प्रेम्णा ऋक्चतुष्केण वैदिकः । शिवाय विधिना भक्तश्चरेद्वस्त्रसमर्पणम्

Transliteration

yā te hetiriti premṇā ṛkcatuṣkeṇa vaidikaḥ | śivāya vidhinā bhaktaścaredvastrasamarpaṇam

Translation

With loving devotion, the Vedic worshipper should, in the prescribed manner, offer cloth to Lord Śiva while reciting the four Vedic verses beginning with “yā te hetiḥ”.

Word by Word

• या: which (she/that)
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (enclitic)

• हेतिः: missile/weapon
• हेतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उक्तिसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय

• प्रेम्णा: with devotion
• प्रेम्णा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• ऋक्चतुष्केण: with a set of four ṛk-verses
• ऋक्चतुष्केण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ऋचां चतुष्कम् = four ṛks)

• वैदिकः: Vedic
• वैदिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भक्तस्य)

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन

• विधिना: according to the prescribed method
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• भक्तः: the devotee
• भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• चरेत्: should perform
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वस्त्रसमर्पणम्: offering of cloth
• वस्त्रसमर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + समर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्रस्य समर्पणम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating prescribed Shiva-worship procedures to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General upacāra: vastra-samarpaṇa to Śiva with Ṛgvedic ṛks (‘yā te hetiḥ…’)—a Vaidika framing of temple/home worship.

Significance: Offering cloth signifies surrender of personal possession and ego-covering; in Siddhānta terms, it supports the paśu’s readiness for the Lord’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ‘या ते हेतिः’ इति… ऋक्चतुष्कम्

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that external offerings become spiritually potent when joined with prema (loving devotion) and vidhi (right method), directing the mind toward Śiva as Pati, the liberating Lord.

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

Cloth-offering is a Saguna upacāra (formal service) commonly performed to the Śiva-liṅga; the verse grounds such temple-style worship in Vedic recitation, harmonizing Veda and Āgamic devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform vastra-samarpaṇa (offering clean cloth) to Śiva while reciting the specified Ṛk-mantra set, cultivating a focused, devotional mind (bhāva) alongside correct ritual procedure.