Shloka 21

Liṅga–Bera Pūjā: Nitya-Arcana and Upacāras as an Accessible Sādhana (लिङ्गबेरपूजा-विधानम्)

Devanagari script

लिंगं तस्यैव पूजायां सर्ववेदेषु संमतम् । तस्यैव सकलत्वाच्च तथा सकलनिष्कलम्

Transliteration

liṃgaṃ tasyaiva pūjāyāṃ sarvavedeṣu saṃmatam | tasyaiva sakalatvācca tathā sakalaniṣkalam

Translation

In the worship of Him (Śiva), the Liṅga is approved by all the Vedas. And because He is the source and support of all manifested forms, the Liṅga is to be understood as both “sakala” (with aspects, endowed with attributes) and “niṣkala” (partless, beyond attributes)—thus, sakala-niṣkala.

Word by Word

• liṅgam: the Liṅga
• liṅgam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; तद्-शब्द)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed/alone
• eva: Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) for emphasis

• pūjāyām: in worship
• pūjāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-vedeṣu: in all the Vedas
• sarva-vedeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-veda (प्रातिपदिक; sarva + veda)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘all’ + ‘Vedas’)

• saṃmatam: approved/accepted
• saṃmatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃmata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त) from sam-√man, Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with liṅgam

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; तद्-शब्द)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात)

• sakalatvāt: because of (its) completeness/wholeness
• sakalatvāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakalatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• tathā: and also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• sakala-niṣkalam: both with form and formless
• sakala-niṣkalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala-niṣkala (प्रातिपदिक; sakala + niṣkala)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (it is both ‘with parts’ and ‘partless’); agrees with liṅgam (understood)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vedas
• Linga

FAQs

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

It establishes Vedic legitimacy for Liṅga-worship and teaches that the Liṅga points to Śiva as both transcendent (niṣkala) and immanent (sakala), guiding the devotee from form-based devotion to realization of the formless Supreme.

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

The Liṅga functions as a Saguna support for pūjā (accessible worship), yet it signifies the Nirguna reality of Śiva; hence it is described as sakala-niṣkala—worship begins with a sacred form and culminates in the formless truth it reveals.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating that the worshipped Liṅga is not merely an object but the sign of Śiva who is both manifest and beyond manifestation.