Shloka 96

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

अव्यक्तांतरधिष्ठानं गर्भः पुरुष उच्यते । सुव्यक्तांतरधिष्ठानं गर्भः प्रकृतिरुच्यते

Transliteration

avyaktāṃtaradhiṣṭhānaṃ garbhaḥ puruṣa ucyate | suvyaktāṃtaradhiṣṭhānaṃ garbhaḥ prakṛtirucyate

Translation

അവ്യക്തം അന്തർആധാരമായിരിക്കുന്ന ‘ഗർഭം’ പുരുഷൻ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; സുവ്യക്തം അന്തർആധാരമായിരിക്കുന്ന ‘ഗർഭം’ പ്രകൃതി എന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• avyakta-antara-adhiṣṭhānam: the inner support (in the unmanifest)
• avyakta-antara-adhiṣṭhānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avyakta (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhiṣṭhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'adhiṣṭhāna' qualified by 'avyakta' and 'antara'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• garbhaḥ: Garbha
• garbhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• puruṣaḥ: Puruṣa
• puruṣaḥ: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• su-vyakta-antara-adhiṣṭhānam: the inner support (in the well-manifest)
• su-vyakta-antara-adhiṣṭhānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (अव्यय) + vyakta (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhiṣṭhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative; 'su' उपसर्गवत् 'very'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• garbhaḥ: Garbha
• garbhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• prakṛtiḥ: Prakṛti
• prakṛtiḥ: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Provides a doctrinal lens for devotees to interpret experience: the ‘unmanifest’ and ‘manifest’ as inner bases (adhiṣṭhāna) of cosmic becoming; pilgrimage becomes contemplative inquiry into the source of manifestation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the conscious principle (Puruṣa) rooted in the Unmanifest from the manifesting principle (Prakṛti), guiding the seeker to discern Spirit from Nature and turn toward Shiva as the transcendent Pati beyond both.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to move from the manifest (vyakta) to the subtle (avyakta) and finally to Shiva, who is beyond Prakṛti and Puruṣa; the Saguna form supports meditation, while the teaching points to the ultimate, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the inner support (adhiṣṭhāna) through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while applying Tripuṇḍra bhasma, cultivating viveka (discernment) between the manifest field of prakṛti and the witnessing puruṣa.