Shloka 37

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

गवादीन्द्वादशानर्थान्सांगान्दत्वा तु यत्फलम् । तत्फलं समवाप्नोति द्वादश्यां विष्णुतर्पणात्

Transliteration

gavādīndvādaśānarthānsāṃgāndatvā tu yatphalam | tatphalaṃ samavāpnoti dvādaśyāṃ viṣṇutarpaṇāt

Translation

ഗോവു മുതലായ പന്ത്രണ്ടു ദാനങ്ങൾ സാംഗോപാംഗമായി നൽകിയാൽ ലഭിക്കുന്ന ഫലം, ദ്വാദശി ദിനം ഭഗവാൻ വിഷ്ണുവിന് തർപ്പണം ചെയ്താൽ അതേ ഫലമായി ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• गव-आदीन्: cows and the like
• गव-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; ‘गो-आदि’ इति तत्पुरुषसमासः (go and the like)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषणम्; ‘अर्थान्’ इति पदं विशेषयति (twelve)

• अर्थान्: objects/wealth (items)
• अर्थान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• स-अङ्गान्: with all accompaniments
• स-अङ्गान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्ग + स (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘साङ्ग’ = सह अङ्गैः (with all accessories/limbs)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having given’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे (but/indeed)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘फलम्’ इति पदं विशेषयति (which)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma/Phala (फल/कर्मफल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तत्-फलम्: that result
• तत्-फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः (that fruit/result)

• समवाप्नोति: attains/obtains
• समवाप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् + सम् + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘attains fully’

• द्वादश्याम्: on the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कालाधिकरणम् (locative of time)

• विष्णु-तर्पणात्: from (performing) offering of water to Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-तर्पणात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause): ‘from/by (the act of) Viṣṇu-tarpaṇa’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The Kāśī-oriented discourse often equates or amplifies ritual fruits through simplified rites; here, tarpaṇa to Viṣṇu on Dvādaśī is said to match major dāna-merit—reflecting the Purāṇic tendency to make dharma accessible within sacred-kṣetra practice.

Significance: Encourages accessible ritual (tarpaṇa) as a high-merit substitute for costly gifts; supports householders’ dharma and steadies them for higher Śaiva aims.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere, rule-based ritual remembrance (tarpaṇa on Dvādaśī) can confer the same merit as large external donations, emphasizing accessible dharma and inner devotion over mere material capacity.

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

Within a Shaiva Purana frame, it reflects harmony among Saguna forms: honoring Viṣṇu through tarpaṇa supports dharma and devotion, which ultimately matures into steadiness fit for Shiva-worship (including Linga-upāsanā) and liberation under Pati (Śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Viṣṇu-tarpaṇa on Dvādaśī with purity and proper procedure; as a takeaway, pair it with japa (e.g., steady mantra recitation) and sattvic conduct to ensure the rite becomes devotion rather than mere formality.