Shloka 17

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

लिंगानामयुतं कृत्वा पार्थिवानां सुबुद्धिमान् । निर्भयो हि भवेन्नूनं महाराजभयं हरेत्

Transliteration

liṃgānāmayutaṃ kṛtvā pārthivānāṃ subuddhimān | nirbhayo hi bhavennūnaṃ mahārājabhayaṃ haret

Translation

સુબુદ્ધિમાન ભક્ત જો પાર્થિવ (માટી) શિવલિંગો દસ હજાર બનાવે, તો તે નિશ્ચયે નિર્ભય બને છે અને મહારાજાનો ભય પણ દૂર થાય છે.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गानाम्: of liṅgas
• लिङ्गानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• अयुतम्: ten thousand
• अयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (ten-thousand)

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having done/made’

• पार्थिवानाम्: of kings/earthly rulers
• पार्थिवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• सुबुद्धिमान्: very intelligent
• सुबुद्धिमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + बुद्धिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—सु + बुद्धिमान् (उपपद/प्रादि-तत्पुरुष); कर्तृविशेषणम्

• निर्भयः: fearless
• निर्भयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नूनम्: certainly
• नूनम्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (certainly)

• महा-राज-भयम्: fear of the great king
• महा-राज-भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—महाराजस्य भयम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• हरेत्: would remove
• हरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it teaches a specific sādhana: crafting ten thousand earthen (pārthiva) liṅgas as a vow-like act that removes fear, even fear of royal authority—i.e., worldly coercion and insecurity.

Significance: Frames liṅga-making as a protective and confidence-giving upāya; the ‘fearlessness’ is both social (freedom from oppression) and spiritual (reduction of anxiety born of pāśa).

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devoted Parthiva-Liṅga worship purifies fear at its root, because taking refuge in Pati (Shiva) loosens the binding power of pasha—worldly intimidation, insecurity, and dependence on external authority.

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

The verse praises Saguna upasana through the Liṅga as an accessible form of Shiva. By repeatedly creating and honoring the Liṅga, the devotee’s mind becomes steady in Shiva, and worldly fear—symbolized by fear of a king—falls away.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Parthiva Liṅga Puja: making many small earthen Liṅgas and worshipping them with devotion, ideally alongside japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating inner fearlessness and surrender.