Shloka 40

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

प्रणवेनादिसंयुक्तं ब्राह्मणानां विशिष्यते । दीक्षायुक्तं गुरोर्ग्राह्यं मंत्रं ह्यथ फलाप्तये

Transliteration

praṇavenādisaṃyuktaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ viśiṣyate | dīkṣāyuktaṃ gurorgrāhyaṃ maṃtraṃ hyatha phalāptaye

Translation

പ്രണവം (ഓം) കൊണ്ട് ആരംഭിക്കുന്ന മന്ത്രം ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കു പ്രത്യേകമായി നിർദ്ദേശിതമാണ്. ഫലപ്രാപ്തിക്കായി ദീക്ഷയോടുകൂടി ആ മന്ത്രം ഗുരുവിൽ നിന്നേ സ്വീകരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• प्रणवेन: with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with/through praṇava (Oṃ)’

• आदि-संयुक्तम्: joined with the beginning (praṇava)
• आदि-संयुक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त, √युज्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; past passive participle (क्त) ‘joined’; compound ‘joined with the beginning (praṇava)’

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural; ‘among/of Brahmins’

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished
• विशिष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शिष् (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), 3rd person, Singular; ātmanepada; ‘is distinguished/excels’

• दीक्षा-युक्तम्: endowed with dīkṣā
• दीक्षा-युक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त, √युज्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; PPP (क्त) ‘endowed with initiation’

• गुरोः: of the guru
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘of/from the guru’ (with ग्राह्यम्)

• ग्राह्यम्: to be accepted
• ग्राह्यम्: Kriya (विधेय/आदेश)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्राह्य (कृदन्त, √ग्रह्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; gerundive (ण्यत्) ‘to be accepted’

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular; object (what is to be accepted)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Particle (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Particle (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle

• फल-आप्तये: for attaining the result
• फल-आप्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose ‘for attainment of fruit/result’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teaching tradition to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Ishana

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes orthodox transmission: mantra bears full efficacy when received through guru-paramparā with dīkṣā, paralleling the idea that sacred power is accessed through proper adhikāra and rite.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya (praṇava-pūrvaka)

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra is not merely sound but a consecrated power: when linked to Oṁ and received through dīkṣā from a competent guru, it becomes effective for inner purification and the grace of Pati (Lord Shiva), leading toward liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is supported by mantra-japa and ritual purity; this verse emphasizes that the mantra used in Saguna Shiva worship becomes truly fruitful when transmitted through the guru-paramparā with proper initiation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Receive a Shaiva mantra through dīkṣā from a qualified guru and practice disciplined japa—especially with Oṁ as the praṇava—so the worship yields its intended spiritual fruit.