Shloka 6

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

शुद्धप्रदेशसंभूतां मृदमाहृत्य यत्नतः । शिवलिंगं प्रकल्पेत सावधानतया द्विजाः

Transliteration

śuddhapradeśasaṃbhūtāṃ mṛdamāhṛtya yatnataḥ | śivaliṃgaṃ prakalpeta sāvadhānatayā dvijāḥ

Translation

O twice-born ones, carefully bring clay obtained from a pure place with due effort, and with attentive care fashion a Śiva-liṅga for worship.

Word by Word

• शुद्ध-प्रदेश-संभूताम्: arisen from a pure place
• शुद्ध-प्रदेश-संभूताम्: कर्म (Karma) — object qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध + प्रदेश + संभूत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘मृदम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; संभूत = भू (धातु) + क्त (past participle)

• मृदम्: clay
• मृदम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — accusative singular

• आहृत्य: having brought
• आहृत्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Gerund; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — ‘having brought’

• यत्नतः: carefully
• यत्नतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) — ‘with effort/carefully’

• शिव-लिङ्गम्: Śiva-liṅga
• शिव-लिङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — accusative singular; ‘शिवस्य लिङ्गम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• प्रकल्पेत: should prepare
• प्रकल्पेत: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — ‘should fashion/prepare’

• सावधानतया: with attentiveness
• सावधानतया: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावधानता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — instrumental singular; भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन — nominative plural; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि प्रयुज्यते (vocative sense possible)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes purity of material (mṛd) and careful craftsmanship: the devotee ‘creates’ a worship-worthy liṅga, turning disciplined action into a vehicle for Śiva’s approachability and grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship of Saguna Śiva through the liṅga should be grounded in inner and outer purity—using pure materials and mindful care—so the devotee’s intention becomes fit for Śiva’s grace and liberation.

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

The verse gives a direct procedural instruction: the liṅga, as a sanctified form for Saguna worship, should be intentionally fashioned from pure clay, emphasizing that the form is a disciplined support for devotion and concentration on Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests careful collection of pure clay and attentive preparation of a worship-worthy liṅga—implying mindful ritual conduct (śauca and sāvadhāna) as a foundation for japa and pūjā, such as recitation of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during worship.