Shloka 28

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

उत्तमं मध्यमं नीचं त्रिविधं लिंगमीरितम् । मानतो मुनिशार्दूलास्तच्छृणुध्वं वदाम्यहम्

Transliteration

uttamaṃ madhyamaṃ nīcaṃ trividhaṃ liṃgamīritam | mānato muniśārdūlāstacchṛṇudhvaṃ vadāmyaham

Translation

The Liṅga is declared to be of three kinds—superior, middling, and inferior—according to its proper measure and standard. O tiger-like sages, listen as I set it forth.

Word by Word

• उत्तमम्: best; excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (enumerative)

• मध्यमम्: middling; medium
• मध्यमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नीचम्: low; inferior
• नीचम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्रिविधम्: threefold
• त्रिविधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-विद (प्रातिपदिक; समास: त्रि + विध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (numerical)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of 'is said')
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ईरितम्: is declared; is stated
• ईरितम्: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• मानतः: according to measure/standard
• मानतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Reference)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मानतस् (अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; अर्थे 'with respect to measure/standard'

• मुनिशार्दूलाः: O tigers among sages
• मुनिशार्दूलाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक; समास: मुनि + शार्दूल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे (vocative-sense though nominative form used)

• तत्: that (teaching)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• शृणुध्वम्: hear; listen
• शृणुध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वदामि: I say
• वदामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This verse is classificatory (māna-based typology of liṅgas) rather than tied to a single jyotirliṅga; it prepares for procedural/architectural-ritual detail that applies across kṣetras, including jyotirliṅga temples.

Significance: Establishes that correct proportion/standard (māna) matters for icon efficacy and ritual propriety—supporting the idea that śāstric order channels grace reliably.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion should be supported by śāstric order: even in Liṅga worship, correct “māna” (sacred proportion/standard) helps the mind become steady and reverent, making worship a clearer means toward Śiva’s grace and liberation.

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

The Liṅga is Saguna worship’s central support (ālambana) for concentrating on Pati (Śiva). By classifying Liṅgas as superior, medium, and inferior based on measure, the text frames icon-worship as disciplined and intentional rather than arbitrary.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Follow prescribed standards when selecting/installing a Liṅga and perform regular Śiva-pūjā with mantra (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), keeping attention steady on Śiva while honoring scriptural procedure.