Shloka 22

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

अर्चा पार्थिवलिंगानां कोटियज्ञफलप्रदा । भुक्तिदा मुक्तिदा नित्यं ततः कामर्थिनां नृणाम्

Transliteration

arcā pārthivaliṃgānāṃ koṭiyajñaphalapradā | bhuktidā muktidā nityaṃ tataḥ kāmarthināṃ nṛṇām

Translation

Worship of the earthen (Pārthiva) Liṅgas bestows the fruit of millions of sacrifices. It unfailingly grants both worldly enjoyments and liberation; therefore it is ever beneficial for people who seek their desired ends.

Word by Word

• अर्चा: worship
• अर्चा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• पार्थिवलिङ्गानाम्: of earthen liṅgas
• पार्थिवलिङ्गानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पार्थिवस्य लिङ्गम्)

• कोटि-यज्ञ-फल-प्रदा: giver of the fruit of a crore sacrifices
• कोटि-यज्ञ-फल-प्रदा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective of अर्चा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + यज्ञ + फल + प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (कोटियज्ञानां फलम् इव फलम् प्रददाति)

• भुक्ति-दा: giver of enjoyment
• भुक्ति-दा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (भुक्तिं ददाति)

• मुक्ति-दा: giver of liberation
• मुक्ति-दा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मुक्तिं ददाति)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ततः: therefore/from that
• ततः: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक तद्)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/हेतु-अर्थे (from that/therefore)

• कामार्थिनाम्: of desire-seekers
• कामार्थिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (कामम् अर्थयते/कामार्थी)

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching on Śiva-worship to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General doctrine of pārthiva-liṅga arcā: clay liṅga worship equals ‘koṭi-yajña’ fruit and grants both bhukti and mukti.

Significance: Elevates simple, home-accessible worship (clay liṅga) to the efficacy of grand Vedic sacrifices; legitimizes bhakti-ritual as a direct means to grace and liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It declares that sincere arcā of a clay Śiva-liṅga concentrates the merit of vast Vedic sacrifices into a direct act of Śiva-bhakti, culminating not only in dharmic prosperity (bhukti) but also in liberation (mukti) through Śiva’s grace.

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

The Liṅga is the accessible Saguna focus for devotion and ritual; by worshipping the Liṅga, the devotee approaches the transcendent Śiva (beyond form) through a sanctified form, making the highest aim—moksha—reachable within household practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to Pārthiva Liṅga arcā: fashioning a small clay Liṅga, performing pūjā with water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), seeking both right living and final release.