Shloka 10

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

सुहृत्कामी त्रिसाहस्रं वश्यार्थी शतमष्टकम् । मारणार्थी सप्तशतं मोहनार्थी शताष्टकम्

Transliteration

suhṛtkāmī trisāhasraṃ vaśyārthī śatamaṣṭakam | māraṇārthī saptaśataṃ mohanārthī śatāṣṭakam

Translation

Celui qui souhaite le bien d’un ami doit accomplir trois mille (récitations/offrandes). Celui qui désire la soumission doit en accomplir cent huit. Celui qui vise la destruction doit en accomplir sept cents. Celui qui cherche l’illusion ou l’envoûtement doit en accomplir cent huit.

Word by Word

• सुहृत्कामी: one desiring good friends
• सुहृत्कामी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत्- कामिन् (प्रातिपदिक; सुहृत् + कामिन्)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (su-hṛtām kāmī = desiring friends)

• त्रिसाहस्रम्: three thousand (count)
• त्रिसाहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• वश्यार्थी: one seeking subjugation (vaśya)
• वश्यार्थी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्य-अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक; वश्य + अर्थिन्)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (for the purpose of subjugation)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (count-object)

• अष्टकम्: a set of eight
• अष्टकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मारणार्थी: one seeking killing (māraṇa)
• मारणार्थी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारण-अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक; मरण caus. मारण + अर्थिन्)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (for the purpose of killing)

• सप्तशतम्: seven hundred
• सप्तशतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• मोहनार्थी: one seeking delusion (mohana)
• मोहनार्थी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहन-अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक; मोह caus. मोहन + अर्थिन्)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (for the purpose of delusion/infatuation)

• शताष्टकम्: one hundred and eight
• शताष्टकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (100+8)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As part of the Viśveśvara (Lord of the universe) teaching-stream, the verse functions as a pragmatic japa/karma-kāṇḍa appendix to Śiva-upāsanā rather than narrating a distinct Jyotirliṅga origin; it aligns naturally with Kāśī Viśvanātha where mantra-japa and liberation discourse are thematically central.

Significance: Śiva-upāsanā with right intention is said to remove fear and grant both bhoga (worldly aims) and, when purified, the path toward mokṣa; Kāśī is paradigmatic for transforming desire-driven worship into liberative devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It classifies mantra-practice by intention and number, implicitly teaching that japa can be directed toward worldly aims; in a Shaiva Siddhanta frame, the higher purpose is purification and devotion to Pati (Shiva), not harm-based aims.

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

In the Vidyeshvara context, such counts are typically connected to Saguna Shiva worship through the Linga—structured japa/offerings made with sankalpa—yet the tradition repeatedly elevates Shiva-bhakti and inner purity over coercive siddhis.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to intention-based counts for mantra-japa (and often parallel homa offerings) using Shaiva practice norms—commonly the Panchakshara mantra, with disciplined conduct, purity, and Linga-centered devotion.