Shloka 2

Liṅga–Bera Pūjā: Nitya-Arcana and Upacāras as an Accessible Sādhana (लिङ्गबेरपूजा-विधानम्)

Devanagari script

अपि द्र व्यं वहेदेव यथाबलमवंचयन् । अर्पयेल्लिंगबेरार्थमर्चयेदपि संततम्

Transliteration

api dra vyaṃ vahedeva yathābalamavaṃcayan | arpayelliṃgaberārthamarcayedapi saṃtatam

Translation

ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದ್ರವ್ಯವಿದ್ದರೂ, ತನ್ನ ಶಕ್ತಿಯಂತೆ ವಂಚನೆ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ತಂದು, ಶಿವಲಿಂಗ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಗ್ರಹಾರ್ಚನೆಗಾಗಿ ಅರ್ಪಿಸಿ, ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ನಿರಂತರ ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು।

Word by Word

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), अर्थे ‘अपि’ = also/even

• dravyaṃ: material/wealth, substance
• dravyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• vahet: let (him) carry/bring
• vahet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vah (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• yathā-balam: according to (one’s) strength
• yathā-balam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः ‘यथाशक्ति’

• avaṃcayan: not deceiving (anyone)
• avaṃcayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√vañc (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), परस्मैपदीय-प्रयोग; प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (कर्तरि)

• arpayet: let (him) offer
• arpayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arpay (णिजन्त from √arp/√ṛp?; धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• liṅga-bera-artham: for the purpose of the liṅga and the idol (worship)
• liṅga-bera-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + bera (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सम्बन्ध) ‘लिङ्गस्य बेरस्य च अर्थः/अर्थम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the sake of)

• arcayet: let (him) worship
• arcayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• saṃtatam: constantly, continuously
• saṃtatam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saṃtata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग; नपुंसक एकवचन द्वितीया रूपेण अव्ययार्थः ‘निरन्तरम्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha, Śiva is worshipped as the Lord of the universe; the verse stresses sincere offering (yathābalam, avaṃcayan) as the core of liṅga/bera-arcana rather than material magnitude—an ethic echoed in Kāśī’s worship culture.

Significance: Cultivates niṣkapaṭa-bhakti (non-deceitful devotion) and steady upāsanā; in Siddhānta terms, such sincere service prepares the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha by loosening pāśa (mala/karma) through right conduct and worship.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva accepts worship based on sincerity and capacity, and that freedom from deceit (avañcana) makes even a small offering spiritually potent in the path of bhakti.

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

It specifically directs offering and arcana to the liṅga and the sacred icon (bera), affirming Saguna worship as a valid means to approach Pati (Śiva) through visible, reverent practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform regular liṅga-arcana with whatever pure materials you can honestly provide, maintaining steady continuity (saṁtatam); this pairs naturally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”