Shloka 37

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga-māhātmya

The Excellence of the Earthen Śiva Liṅga

Devanagari script

अखंडे स्थावरे पूजा न कामफलदायिनी । प्रत्यवायकरी नित्यमित्युक्तं शास्त्रवेदिभिः

Transliteration

akhaṃḍe sthāvare pūjā na kāmaphaladāyinī | pratyavāyakarī nityamityuktaṃ śāstravedibhiḥ

Translation

ശാസ്ത്രജ്ഞർ പറയുന്നു—അഖണ്ഡമായ സ്ഥിരലിംഗത്തിൽ അർപ്പിക്കുന്ന പൂജ ആഗ്രഹഫലം നൽകുകയില്ല; മറിച്ച് അത് നിത്യവും പ്രത്യവായം (വിധിദോഷം) ഉണ്ടാക്കും।

Word by Word

• अखण्डे: in the unbroken (form)
• अखण्डे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (locative: 'in/with the unbroken/undivided')

• स्थावरे: in the fixed/immobile (liṅga/stone image)
• स्थावरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; अधिकरणार्थे

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negative particle)

• कामफलदायिनी: giver of desired results
• कामफलदायिनी: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-फल-दायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कामस्य फलम्) + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (फलदायिनी)

• प्रत्यवायकरी: causing harm/negative consequence
• प्रत्यवायकरी: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यवाय-करि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रत्यवायं करोति)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (adverbial accusative: 'always')

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Quotative/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक-अव्ययम् (quotative particle)

• उक्तम्: is said
• उक्तम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘said’

• शास्त्रवेदिभिः: by the knowers of the scriptures
• शास्त्रवेदिभिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र-वेदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम्; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देशः; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शास्त्रं वेत्ति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is a doṣa-śāstra statement: mismatch of form and rule leads to pratyavāya.

Significance: Warns that incorrect installation-spec (sthāvara made akhaṇḍa when śāstra requires otherwise) can invert intended benefit into ritual fault; motivates seeking competent guidance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Shiva should be whole and properly performed; incomplete or improper worship can obstruct spiritual progress by creating pratyavāya (a ritual-spiritual impediment), whereas correct worship supports grace and purification.

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

The Linga is a primary saguna focus for approaching the nirguna Supreme Shiva; the verse stresses that Linga-pūjā must follow śāstra—performed in a complete, intact, and proper manner—so that the worship becomes a true vehicle of Shiva’s anugraha (grace) rather than a defective rite.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Linga-pūjā in a disciplined, śāstra-aligned way—maintaining completeness of the rite and reverence—supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a pure devotional intention.