Shloka 42

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

पंचाक्षरेण मंत्रेण गुरुदत्तेन वा तथा । कुर्यात्पूजां षोडशोपचारेण विधिवत्सुधीः

Transliteration

paṃcākṣareṇa maṃtreṇa gurudattena vā tathā | kuryātpūjāṃ ṣoḍaśopacāreṇa vidhivatsudhīḥ

Translation

Using the five-syllabled mantra (pañcākṣara)—or likewise one bestowed by the Guru—the wise devotee should perform the worship properly with the sixteen ritual offerings (ṣoḍaśopacāra).

Word by Word

• पञ्चाक्षरेण: with the five-syllabled (mantra)
• पञ्चाक्षरेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) ‘पञ्चाक्षर’ (five-syllabled), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समासः (numerical compound)

• मन्त्रेण: with a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुरुदत्तेन: given by the guru
• गुरुदत्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु + दत्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) / पुंलिङ्ग (contextual), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘दत्त’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from √दा (to give); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गुरुणा दत्तः (given by the guru)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• तथा: likewise, in that way
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• षोडशोपचारेण: with sixteen offerings/services
• षोडशोपचारेण: Karana (करण/Instrument; means/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश + उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समासः: षोडश उपचाराः (sixteen services)

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘according to rule’

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General: pañcākṣarī-japa and ṣoḍaśopacāra-pūjā are presented as universally efficacious for Śiva-bhakti and grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-bhakti becomes steady and fruitful when mantra and ritual discipline are joined—either through the Panchakshara (the classic Shaiva mantra) or a Guru-transmitted mantra—performed with reverence and right method.

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

The instruction points to formal Shiva-puja as a Saguna approach: worshipping Shiva through a consecrated form (often the Linga) using mantra-japa and the traditional sixteen services, which purify the devotee and focus consciousness on Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mantra-based worship: chant the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) or your Guru-given mantra while offering the ṣoḍaśopacāras in proper sequence and purity of intention.