Shloka 33

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

सर्वमेतत्परित्यज्य कर्मजालमशेषतः । भक्त्या परमया विद्वां ल्लिंगमेकं प्रपूजयेत्

Transliteration

sarvametatparityajya karmajālamaśeṣataḥ | bhaktyā paramayā vidvāṃ lliṃgamekaṃ prapūjayet

Translation

सर्वमेतत्कर्मजालमशेषतः परित्यज्य विद्वान् परमया भक्त्या एकमेव शिवलिङ्गं प्रपूजयेत्।

Word by Word

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन

• etat: this
• etat: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (sarvam-etat)

• parityajya: having abandoned
• parityajya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√tyaj (त्यज्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having abandoned’

• karma-jālam: net/mesh of actions
• karma-jālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (karmāṇāṃ jālam)

• aśeṣataḥ: completely
• aśeṣataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb), ‘without remainder/entirely’

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया/करण (3rd case), एकवचन

• paramayā: supreme
• paramayā: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (bhaktyā)

• vidvān: a learned person
• vidvān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेष-प्रातिपदिक (विद्वस्-शब्द)

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन

• ekam: one/alone
• ekam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (liṅgam)

• prapūjayet: should worship
• prapūjayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√pūj (पूज्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga-specific passage; it teaches ekāgra-bhakti (single-point worship) over karma-jāla (instrumental ritualism).

Significance: Frames liṅga-upāsanā as a direct path: renounce fruit-motivated ritual complexity and approach Śiva with parā-bhakti for liberating grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented spirituality is not achieved by getting entangled in endless ritual actions for worldly fruits; the wise choose single-minded devotion to Śiva, which purifies bondage (pāśa) and leads toward grace (anugraha).

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

The verse recommends worship of the one Liṅga as the accessible Saguna support for concentrating the mind and heart on Śiva; through such focused bhakti, the devotee is led toward realization of Śiva’s ultimate, non-dual reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simplified, one-pointed practice: reverent Liṅga-pūjā with supreme devotion—ideally supported by mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) rather than multiplying auxiliary rites for limited ends.