Shloka 23

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

विना लिंगार्चनं यस्य कालो गच्छति नित्यशः । महाहानिर्भवेत्तस्य दुर्वृत्तस्य दुरात्मनः

Transliteration

vinā liṃgārcanaṃ yasya kālo gacchati nityaśaḥ | mahāhānirbhavettasya durvṛttasya durātmanaḥ

Translation

Тот, чьи дни постоянно проходят без поклонения Шива-лингаму, терпит великое духовное ущербление; он дурного нрава и падшего сердца.

Word by Word

• विना: without
• विना: Nishedha/Upapada (उपपद/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-निपात, वियोगार्थक (without)

• लिङ्ग-अर्चनम्: worship of the liṅga
• लिङ्ग-अर्चनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object with विनाऽर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (लिङ्गस्य अर्चनम्)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (relative pronoun)

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गच्छति: passes/goes
• गच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नित्यशः: continually
• नित्यशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (always/continually)

• महाहानिः: great loss
• महाहानिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of भवेत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + हानि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती हानिः)

• भवेत्: would occur/becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिङ्-लकार (Potential/Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• दुर्वृत्तस्य: of the ill-conducted
• दुर्वृत्तस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण of तस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दुष्टं वृत्तं यस्य/दुर्वृत्तः)

• दुरात्मनः: of the wicked-minded
• दुरात्मनः: Visheshana (विशेषण of तस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दुष्ट आत्मा यस्य/दुरात्मा)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teaching on daily Linga worship to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that human life is meant for God-realization, and neglecting Śiva-upāsanā—especially Liṅga-arcana—wastes one’s time and leads to major spiritual decline, as devotion (bhakti) and right conduct are central to liberation.

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

The Liṅga is the accessible Saguna support for worship through which the devotee offers water, bilva, mantra, and reverence; by honoring the Liṅga, one steadily purifies the mind and is led toward the realization of Śiva beyond form (Nirguna) as well.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily Liṅga-arcana with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with simple offerings like water and bilva leaves; maintaining Shaiva conduct (sadācāra) is implied as the foundation of the practice.