Shloka 101

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

भं वृद्धिं गच्छतीत्यर्थाद्भगः प्रकृतिरुच्यते । प्राकृतैः शब्दमात्राद्यैः प्राकृतेंद्रियभोजनात्

Transliteration

bhaṃ vṛddhiṃ gacchatītyarthādbhagaḥ prakṛtirucyate | prākṛtaiḥ śabdamātrādyaiḥ prākṛteṃdriyabhojanāt

Translation

音節「bha」は「増大し、広がるもの」という意を含むがゆえに、「bhaga」という語はプラクリティ（根本自然）であると言われる。これは、音をはじめとするただのタンマートラ等の自然の微細要素から成り、また物質的な諸根（感官）が享受する場となるゆえに、その名で呼ばれる。

Word by Word

• bham: the syllable/letter ‘bha’
• bham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bha (भ धातु/वर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वर्ण-नाम (letter-name used as object)

• vṛddhim: increase/growth
• vṛddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• gacchati: goes/attains
• gacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyasaṃjñā/Quotation marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-निपात (quotative)

• arthāt: from the meaning
• arthāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ‘from the meaning/sense’

• bhagaḥ: Bhaga (term/name)
• bhagaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• prakṛtiḥ: Prakṛti (primordial nature)
• prakṛtiḥ: Pratipādya/Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive) — ‘is said/called’

• prākṛtaiḥ: by natural (means/elements)
• prākṛtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prākṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण — ‘by/with natural (ones)’

• śabda-mātra-ādyaiḥ: by (the subtle elements) beginning with sound alone
• śabda-mātra-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda + mātra + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः — ‘by those beginning with mere sound’

• prākṛta-indriya-bhojanāt: from the enjoyment by natural sense-organs
• prākṛta-indriya-bhojanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prākṛta + indriya + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः — ‘from the enjoyment/feeding of natural sense-organs’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines Prakṛti as the expanding material principle made of subtle elements (tanmātras) and the domain where the senses experience objects—implying that liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta comes by turning from sense-driven bhoga toward Shiva (Pati), the transcendent Lord beyond Prakṛti.

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

Linga-worship anchors the mind in Shiva as the Lord of Prakṛti rather than in Prakṛti’s sound, touch, form, taste, and smell. By worshiping Saguna Shiva through the Linga, the devotee purifies sensory life and gradually realizes Shiva as the inner ruler who is not limited by material expansion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint supported by japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and focused Linga-dhyāna, so that the senses cease treating Prakṛti as “enjoyment” and instead become instruments of Shiva-bhakti.