Shloka 15

देवदारुवनौकसां प्रति ब्रह्मोपदेशः—लिङ्गलक्षण-प्रतिष्ठा-विधिः, शिवमायारूपदर्शनं, स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

सौवर्णं राजतं शैलं कृत्वा ताम्रमयं तथा वेदिकायाश् च विस्तारं त्रिगुणं वै समन्ततः

Transliteration

sauvarṇaṃ rājataṃ śailaṃ kṛtvā tāmramayaṃ tathā vedikāyāś ca vistāraṃ triguṇaṃ vai samantataḥ

Translation

Après avoir façonné la pierre sacrée du piédestal en or, en argent et de même en cuivre, on doit faire en sorte que la plate-forme d’autel (vedikā) s’étende de tous côtés jusqu’à trois fois sa mesure, afin que le culte du Liṅga soit établi avec juste proportion et sainteté.

Word by Word

• sauvarṇam: made of gold

• rājatam: made of silver

• śailam: stone/rock (pedestal-slab)

• kṛtvā: having made/fashioned

• tāmramayam: made of copper

• tathā: likewise/also

• vedikāyāḥ: of the altar/platform

• ca: and

• vistāram: breadth/extension

• triguṇam: threefold/three times

• vai: indeed

• samantataḥ: on all sides/everywhere around

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Linga-puja vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It sets a key rule of proportion for Linga-pratiṣṭhā: the vedikā (altar-platform) should be expanded threefold on all sides, ensuring the worship-space is properly consecrated and ritually complete.

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

By prescribing precise measures and pure materials around the Linga, the verse implies Shiva as Pati—the transcendent Lord—approached through ordered sacred form, where correct ritual structure supports the pashu’s movement from pāśa (bondage) toward grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical element of Linga-pūjā and pratiṣṭhā is highlighted: constructing the Linga base/stone and the vedikā with prescribed materials and threefold spatial expansion—an outer discipline that supports inner Pāśupata orientation (niyama, purity, and steadiness).