Shloka 32

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

दीपमंत्रेण वा शंभोर्नीराजनविधिं चरेत् । पुष्पांजलिं चरेद्भक्त्या इमा रुद्रा य च त्र् यृचा

Transliteration

dīpamaṃtreṇa vā śaṃbhornīrājanavidhiṃ caret | puṣpāṃjaliṃ caredbhaktyā imā rudrā ya ca tr yṛcā

Translation

Or else, using the lamp-mantra, one should perform the nīrājana rite of waving lights before Śambhu. Then, with devotion, one should offer a handful of flowers and recite this sacred triad of Ṛk-verses addressed to Rudra.

Word by Word

• दीपमन्त्रेण: with the lamp-mantra
• दीपमन्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीपमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) = दीप + मन्त्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण; समास: दीपस्य मन्त्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• नीराजनविधिम्: the rite of ārati (nirājana)
• नीराजनविधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीराजनविधि (प्रातिपदिक) = नीराजन + विधि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समास: नीराजनस्य विधिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

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

• पुष्पाञ्जलिम्: a handful/offer of flowers
• पुष्पाञ्जलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्पाञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) = पुष्प + अञ्जलि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समास: पुष्पाणाम् अञ्जलिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

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

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु (instrumental: 'with/through')

• इमा: these
• इमा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (वैदिक/छान्दस रूप: imāḥ/ imā); विशेषण

• रुद्राय: to Rudra
• रुद्राय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• त्र्यृचा: with the three-verse ṛc (hymn)
• त्र्यृचा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्र्यृचा (प्रातिपदिक) = त्रि + ऋचा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Within the Kāśī/Viśveśvara ritual horizon, nīrājana and puṣpāñjali function as concluding upacāras that ‘seal’ the worship and invite Rudra’s protective grace.

Significance: Ārati (nīrājana) and puṣpāñjali cultivate bhakti and surrender; recitation of Rudra-directed ṛks is treated as śabda-upacāra that sanctifies the mind and environment.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: dīpa-mantra (for nīrājana); imāḥ… rudrāya… (tryṛcā)

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śambhu/Rudra)

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion (bhakti) expressed through simple upacharas—waving a lamp and offering flowers—becomes a complete act of reverence to Pati (Śiva), purifying the devotee and orienting the mind toward grace.

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

Nīrājana and puṣpāñjali are classic Saguna forms of worship offered before Śiva’s visible presence—often the Liṅga—so the senses and mind are gathered into focused adoration while mantras sanctify the ritual act.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva nīrājana (aarti) with a consecrated lamp while reciting a dīpa-mantra, then offer a handful of flowers with devotion and chant the triad of Ṛk-verses to Rudra as a concluding praise.