Shloka 2

सुप्रलिप्ते महीपृष्ठे दर्पणोदरसन्निभे । अरत्नियुग्ममानेन चतुरस्रं प्रकल्पयेत्

supralipte mahīpṛṣṭhe darpaṇodarasannibhe | aratniyugmamānena caturasraṃ prakalpayet

దర్పణాంతర్భాగంలా మెరుస్తూ, బాగా లేపి సమతలపరచిన భూమిపై, రెండు అరత్నుల ప్రమాణంతో నాలుగు వైపులా సమమైన చతురస్రాన్ని ఏర్పరచాలి।

su-pralipteon (a surface) well-plastered
su-pralipte:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsu (अव्यय) + pralipta (कृदन्त; लिप् धातु, क्त)
FormNapumsaka, Locative (7th), Singular; past participle with intensifier su-; 'well-smeared/plastered'
mahī-pṛṣṭheon the earth’s surface
mahī-pṛṣṭhe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootmahī (प्रातिपदिक) + pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Locative (7th), Singular; 'on the surface of the earth'
darpaṇa-udara-sannibhe(on a surface) like a mirror’s face
darpaṇa-udara-sannibhe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + udara (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Locative (7th), Singular; 'resembling the belly/surface of a mirror'
aratni-yugma-mānenaby the measure of two cubits
aratni-yugma-mānena:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootaratni (प्रातिपदिक) + yugma (प्रातिपदिक) + māna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; 'by the measure of a pair of cubits'
caturasrama square (quadrilateral)
caturasram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootcaturasra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapumsaka, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object to be made
prakalpayetshould construct/arrange
prakalpayet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-kḷp (धातु)
FormVidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular; parasmaipada

Suta Goswami

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Significance: Highlights the Siddhānta principle that outer order (kriyā) stabilizes inner order; the ‘mirror-like’ ground symbolizes antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi enabling steady worship.

S
Shiva

FAQs

It teaches that outer purity and careful preparation of the worship-ground supports inner steadiness; in Shaiva practice, a clean and well-defined sacred space helps the mind turn toward Pati (Shiva) and away from pasha (bondage).

The verse gives a practical step for establishing a proper worship-area (a measured square) suitable for Linga-puja—honoring Saguna Shiva through precise, reverent ritual form that steadies devotion and concentration.

Prepare a smooth, clean altar-space and mark a square of two aratnis; then proceed with Linga-puja using mantra (such as the Panchakshara) with focused attention in the consecrated area.