Shloka 53

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

इति ध्यात्वा च संपूज्य पार्थिवं लिंगमुत्तमम् । जपेत्पंचाक्षरं मंत्रं गुरुदत्तं यथाविधि

Transliteration

iti dhyātvā ca saṃpūjya pārthivaṃ liṃgamuttamam | japetpaṃcākṣaraṃ maṃtraṃ gurudattaṃ yathāvidhi

Translation

Ainsi, après avoir médité et rendu un culte conforme au sublime Liṅga de terre, on doit, selon la règle prescrite, répéter le mantra aux cinq syllabes transmis par le Guru.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) + त्वा (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having meditated’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सम्पूज्य: having worshipped well
• सम्पूज्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having duly worshipped’

• पार्थिवम्: earthen / made of clay
• पार्थिवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (to लिङ्गम्)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (to लिङ्गम्)

• जपेत्: one should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पञ्च-अक्षरम्: five-syllabled
• पञ्च-अक्षरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास: ‘five-syllabled’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (to मन्त्रम्)

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• गुरु-दत्तम्: given by the teacher
• गुरु-दत्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + दत्त (दा धातु + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘given by the guru’, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (to मन्त्रम्)

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed method
• यथा-विधि: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास: ‘according to rule’, क्रियाविशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva-worship teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta-aligned path of purification and grace: meditate on Śiva, worship the Liṅga with devotion, and then perform japa of the Guru-transmitted Pañcākṣarī, which leads the bound soul (paśu) toward Śiva’s liberating favor.

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

The earthen (pārthiva) Liṅga is a saguna support for focusing the mind and offering reverent service (pūjā). Through such concrete worship, the devotee’s attention becomes steady and receptive to mantra-power, culminating in inner communion with Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dhyāna (meditation) and proper pūjā of a pārthiva-liṅga, then do japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra as taught by one’s Guru, following the prescribed ritual rules (yathāvidhi).