Shloka 14

Devanagari script

गोमुखी च त्रिभागैका वेद्या लक्षणसंयुता पट्टिका च समन्ताद्वै यवमात्रा द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

gomukhī ca tribhāgaikā vedyā lakṣaṇasaṃyutā paṭṭikā ca samantādvai yavamātrā dvijottamāḥ

Translation

Ô le meilleur des deux-fois-nés, le piédestal (vedī) doit être façonné selon la forme « bouche de vache » (gomukhī), divisé en trois parties et pourvu des marques prescrites ; et tout autour, de tous côtés, qu’il y ait une bande d’enceinte (paṭṭikā) de la mesure d’un yava (grain d’orge).

Word by Word

• गोमुखी: cow-mouth shaped (spouted form for outflow)

• च: and

• त्रिभाग-एका: consisting of three divisions/parts

• वेद्या: the pedestal/altar-base (of the Liṅga)

• लक्षण-संयुता: endowed with the defining marks/rules

• पट्टिका: surrounding strip/band/moulding

• च: and

• समन्तात्: on all sides

• वै: indeed

• यव-मात्रा: of one barley-grain measure

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (address to Brahmins).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages; instructional passage on Liṅga installation)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It specifies the correct construction of the Liṅga’s pedestal (vedī/yoni)—its divisions, identifying marks, and the precise surrounding band—showing that Shiva-puja requires disciplined, rule-based installation (pratiṣṭhā) to support steady devotion to Pati (Shiva).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Indirectly, it presents Shiva-tattva as approached through a sacred support (ādhāra): the formless Pati is worshipped through a properly marked form, where correct ‘lakṣaṇa’ safeguards the rite and aligns the worshipper (paśu) toward liberation from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A pratiṣṭhā-oriented puja practice is highlighted: shaping the gomukhī pedestal and setting exact measurements (yava-mātrā). This supports focused upāsanā and steadiness (dhāraṇā-like discipline) in Shaiva worship.