Shloka 51

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

ततः पंचाक्षरं जप्त्वा शतरुद्रि यमेव च । स्तुतीर्नानाविधाः कृत्वा पंचांगपठनं तथा

Transliteration

tataḥ paṃcākṣaraṃ japtvā śatarudri yameva ca | stutīrnānāvidhāḥ kṛtvā paṃcāṃgapaṭhanaṃ tathā

Translation

Thereafter, having repeated the five-syllabled mantra “Namaḥ Śivāya” and also recited the Śatarudrīya, and having offered hymns of praise in many forms, one should likewise recite the Pañcāṅga—the fivefold prayer—as well.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तरवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'then')

• paṃca-akṣaram: the five-syllabled (mantra)
• paṃca-akṣaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃca (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—द्विगुः (numerical compound); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• japtvā: having recited
• japtvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √jap (धातु) → japtvā (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय/अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund): 'having recited'

• śatarudriyam: the Śatarudriya (hymn)
• śatarudriyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + rudriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुषः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; (पाठे 'शतरुद्रि' = 'शतरुद्रियम्')

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphasis)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• stutīḥ: hymns/praises
• stutīḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• nānā-vidhāḥ: of various kinds
• nānā-vidhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-भाव) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—कर्मधारयः; स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनम्; 'स्तुतीः' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• kṛtvā: having performed
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) → kṛtvā (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय/अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund): 'having done'

• paṃca-aṅga-paṭhanam: recitation of the five parts/limbs
• paṃca-aṅga-paṭhanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃca (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + paṭhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—(द्विगु-पूर्वक) तत्पुरुषः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'also/likewise')

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the prescribed order of Śiva-worship to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In Kāśī/Viśveśvara worship, mantra-japa (Paṃcākṣarī) and Vedic Rudra-recitation (Śatarudrīya) are paired: the Purāṇic paddhati integrates Āgamic devotion with Vedic authority, culminating in stuti and pañcāṅga-prayer.

Significance: Japa and Śatarudrīya are presented as direct means to invoke Rudra’s presence and receive anugraha—purifying pāśa (bondage) and steadying the paśu toward pati-bhakti.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It lays out a Shaiva Siddhanta-aligned progression of worship—mantra-japa (inner turning to Pati, Śiva), Vedic Śatarudrīya (reverent recognition of Śiva’s all-pervading forms), and stuti (devotional surrender)—culminating in disciplined recitation that purifies the pashu (bound soul) toward Śiva’s grace.

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

These recitations are typically performed as accompaniments to Liṅga-pūjā: the Pañcākṣarī centers the mind on Śiva as the worshipped Lord (Saguna for devotion), while Śatarudrīya and stutis sanctify the ritual space and offerings, treating the Liṅga as the accessible focus of the Nirguna Lord’s compassion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured sādhana: chant the Pañcākṣarī (Namaḥ Śivāya), recite the Śatarudrīya, offer hymns (stuti), and complete the worship with Pañcāṅga recitation—used as a daily Śiva-pūjā/vrata sequence, especially suitable for Mahāśivarātri observance.