Shloka 4

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

वेदोक्ताविधिना सम्यक्संपूर्णफलसिद्धये । पूजयेत्परया भक्त्या पार्थिवं लिंगमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

vedoktāvidhinā samyaksaṃpūrṇaphalasiddhaye | pūjayetparayā bhaktyā pārthivaṃ liṃgamuttamam

Translation

To attain the complete and perfect fruition of the rite enjoined in the Vedas, one should worship the excellent earthen Liṅga with supreme devotion.

Word by Word

• वेदोक्त: enjoined in the Veda
• वेदोक्त: करण (Karaṇa) — instrument qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद-उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-एकवचनस्य (instrumental singular) ‘विधिना’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; ‘वेदेन उक्तम्’ इति कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः

• विधिना: by the prescribed method
• विधिना: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — instrumental singular

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• संपूर्ण-फल-सिद्धये: for the attainment of complete results
• संपूर्ण-फल-सिद्धये: सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन (Sampradāna/Prayojana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संपूर्ण + फल + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन — dative singular; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — ‘he should worship’

• परया: with supreme
• परया: करण (Karaṇa) — instrument qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘भक्त्या’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — instrumental singular

• पार्थिवम्: earthen
• पार्थिवम्: कर्म (Karma) — object qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘लिङ्गम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — accusative singular

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: कर्म (Karma) — object qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘लिङ्गम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Pārthiva-liṅga pūjā is portrayed as a highly accessible sādhana yielding ‘complete fruit’ when done with Veda-aligned procedure and parā-bhakti; it functions as a portable tīrtha and temple for the devotee.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that the fullest spiritual fruit arises when Veda-based worship is performed correctly and infused with supreme bhakti toward Śiva, the Pati (Lord) who grants grace and liberation.

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

The earthen Liṅga is a saguna support for devotion—an accessible form through which the devotee approaches the transcendent Śiva; proper ritual (vidhi) and heartfelt devotion together make the worship effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to pārthiva-liṅga-pūjā done by Vedic rules—typically including mantra-japa (often the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offerings, and focused devotion as the essential inner practice.