Shloka 28

Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ

Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship

Devanagari script

खट्वांगश्च महाराजो देवसाहाय्यकारकः । विधितः पार्थिवीम्मूर्तिं शिवस्यापूजयत्सदा

Transliteration

khaṭvāṃgaśca mahārājo devasāhāyyakārakaḥ | vidhitaḥ pārthivīmmūrtiṃ śivasyāpūjayatsadā

Translation

Le roi Khaṭvāṅga, grand souverain qui porta secours aux dieux, adorait sans cesse le Seigneur Śiva selon les rites prescrits, en vénérant une mūrti Pārthiva, une effigie de terre de Śiva.

Word by Word

• खट्वाङ्गः: Khaṭvāṅga
• खट्वाङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खट्वाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राजनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• महाराजः: great king
• महाराजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-राज (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: महा + राज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महान् राजा

• देवसाहाय्यकारकः: one who rendered help to the gods
• देवसाहाय्यकारकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव-साहाय्य-कारक (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: देव + साहाय्य + कारक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानां साहाय्यं (help to the gods) + कारक (maker/doer)

• विधितः: as prescribed
• विधितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि (कृदन्त; √धा (धातु) उपसर्ग वि + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (ordered/prescribed)

• पार्थिवीम्: earthen
• पार्थिवीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मूर्तिम्: image/form
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अपूजयत्: worshipped
• अपूजयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the merit of nitya-śivapūjā (daily Śiva worship) performed according to vidhi; emphasizes that even a simple earthen embodiment can become a locus of grace (anugraha) when approached with devotion and right procedure.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• King Khatvanga
• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that steadfast, rule-guided devotion (vidhi-yukta bhakti) to Śiva purifies the soul and aligns it with Pati (the Lord), showing that sincere daily worship—performed correctly—supports liberation-oriented life.

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

By mentioning a “pārthivī mūrti” (earthen form), the verse points to Saguna worship—approaching the formless Śiva through a sacred, tangible embodiment (often understood as a clay Linga or icon), which becomes a focused support for devotion and contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular Parthiva (clay/earth) Śiva worship performed with prescribed procedure—cleanliness, offerings, and mantra-recitation (commonly the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—emphasizing consistency (sadā) and correctness (vidhitaḥ).