Shloka 13

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

प्रमाणमंगुलस्यैकं तदूर्ध्वं पंचकत्रयम् । अयोदारुकृतं पात्रं शिवमित्युच्यते बुधैः

Transliteration

pramāṇamaṃgulasyaikaṃ tadūrdhvaṃ paṃcakatrayam | ayodārukṛtaṃ pātraṃ śivamityucyate budhaiḥ

Translation

ഇതിന്റെ അളവ് ഒരു അങ്കുലം; അതിന്റെ മുകളിൽ മൂന്ന് പഞ്ചകങ്ങൾ (അഥവാ പതിനഞ്ച് അങ്കുലം) ഉണ്ട്. ഇരുമ്പോ മരമോ കൊണ്ടുണ്ടാക്കിയ പാത്രത്തെ പണ്ഡിതർ ‘ശിവപാത്രം’ എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• प्रमाणम्: measure/standard
• प्रमाणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; measure/standard (subject/predicate usage)

• अङ्गुलस्य: of a finger (aṅgula)
• अङ्गुलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying प्रमाणम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Adhikaraṇa/Reference (निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• ऊर्ध्वम्: above/upwards
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गार्थक-अव्यय/क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पञ्चकत्रयम्: a triad of five-units (three fives)
• पञ्चकत्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चक + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चकस्य त्रयम्)

• अयः: iron
• अयः: Upapada/Qualifier (उपपद-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; used as first member in compound

• दारु: wood
• दारु: Upapada/Qualifier (उपपद-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; used as first member in compound

• कृतम्: made (of)
• कृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘made’

• पात्रम्: vessel/container
• पात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• शिवम्: (called) ‘Śiva’
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; predicate-noun

• इति: thus/so
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotative particle (उद्धरणसूचक)

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines standardized dimensions and names of ritual implements (Śiva-pātra), supporting correct temple/household worship and thereby reliable ‘phala’.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sanctifies precision and purity in Shiva-upāsanā: the devotee honors Pati (Śiva) by performing worship with disciplined measures and approved implements, expressing bhakti through order, reverence, and scriptural alignment.

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

The verse defines a specific worship implement (Śiva-pātra) used in external, saguna-oriented ritual—supporting linga-pūjā and abhiṣeka where materials and dimensions are traditionally regulated to maintain ritual propriety.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests careful preparation of puja articles—especially a properly measured vessel for offerings/abhisheka—performed with mantra-japa (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) and a focused, disciplined mind.