Shloka 35

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

अज्ञानतिमिरांधानां विषयासक्तचेतसाम् । प्लवो नान्योस्ति जगति लिंगाराधनमंतरा

Transliteration

ajñānatimirāṃdhānāṃ viṣayāsaktacetasām | plavo nānyosti jagati liṃgārādhanamaṃtarā

Translation

For those blinded by the darkness of ignorance and whose minds cling to sense-objects, there is no other raft in this world—apart from the worship of the Śiva-liṅga.

Word by Word

• ajñāna-timira-andhānām: of those blinded by the darkness of ignorance
• ajñāna-timira-andhānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + timira (प्रातिपदिक) + andha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘of those blind due to the darkness of ignorance’

• viṣaya-āsakta-cetasām: of those with minds attached to objects
• viṣaya-āsakta-cetasām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक) + āsakta (कृदन्त; √sañj/सञ्ज् धातु) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (cetas), Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘of those whose minds are attached to sense-objects’

• plavas: boat/raft
• plavas: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (negation)

• anyas: another
• anyas: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• jagati: in the world
• jagati: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• liṅga-ārādhanam: liṅga-worship
• liṅga-ārādhanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + ārādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘worship of the liṅga’

• antarā: without/except
• antarā: Sambandha (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antarā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upapada governing accusative/ablative sense; here ‘except/without’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the teaching of the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General liṅga-māhātmya: the liṅga is presented as the sole ‘plava’ (raft) for those deluded by ajñāna and viṣayāsakti—echoing Siddhānta’s diagnosis of bondage by āṇava/māyīya/karma malas and the need for Śiva’s grace mediated through worship.

Significance: Frames liṅgārcana as the practical salvific discipline for the bound soul (paśu) whose cognition is obscured (tirodhāna) by ignorance.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares liṅgārādhana as the sure means to cross saṁsāra for souls blinded by ajñāna and pulled outward by sense-attachments—because devotion to Pati (Śiva) awakens right knowledge and grace.

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

The liṅga is the accessible, saguna focus through which the mind turns from viṣaya (objects) to Śiva; steady liṅga-worship purifies the heart and leads toward realization of Śiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular liṅga pūjā—especially abhiṣeka with water, offering bilva leaves, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—as a daily discipline to weaken attachment and dispel ignorance.