Shloka 42

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

पंचाक्षरेण मंत्रेण गुरुदत्तेन वा तथा । कुर्यात्पूजां षोडशोपचारेण विधिवत्सुधीः

Transliteration

paṃcākṣareṇa maṃtreṇa gurudattena vā tathā | kuryātpūjāṃ ṣoḍaśopacāreṇa vidhivatsudhīḥ

Translation

Avec le mantra aux cinq syllabes (pañcākṣara), ou bien avec celui conféré par le Guru, le dévot avisé doit accomplir la pūjā selon la règle, avec les seize services rituels (ṣoḍaśopacāra).

Word by Word

• पञ्चाक्षरेण: with the five-syllabled (mantra)
• पञ्चाक्षरेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) ‘पञ्चाक्षर’ (five-syllabled), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समासः (numerical compound)

• मन्त्रेण: with a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुरुदत्तेन: given by the guru
• गुरुदत्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु + दत्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) / पुंलिङ्ग (contextual), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘दत्त’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from √दा (to give); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गुरुणा दत्तः (given by the guru)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• तथा: likewise, in that way
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• षोडशोपचारेण: with sixteen offerings/services
• षोडशोपचारेण: Karana (करण/Instrument; means/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश + उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समासः: षोडश उपचाराः (sixteen services)

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘according to rule’

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General: pañcākṣarī-japa and ṣoḍaśopacāra-pūjā are presented as universally efficacious for Śiva-bhakti and grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-bhakti becomes steady and fruitful when mantra and ritual discipline are joined—either through the Panchakshara (the classic Shaiva mantra) or a Guru-transmitted mantra—performed with reverence and right method.

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

The instruction points to formal Shiva-puja as a Saguna approach: worshipping Shiva through a consecrated form (often the Linga) using mantra-japa and the traditional sixteen services, which purify the devotee and focus consciousness on Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mantra-based worship: chant the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) or your Guru-given mantra while offering the ṣoḍaśopacāras in proper sequence and purity of intention.