Shloka 3

Devanagari script

तालपत्रं समादाय तत्समायामविस्तरम् । तस्मिन्भागान्प्रकुर्वीत त्रयोदशसमां कलाम्

Transliteration

tālapatraṃ samādāya tatsamāyāmavistaram | tasminbhāgānprakurvīta trayodaśasamāṃ kalām

Translation

తాళపత్రాన్ని తీసుకొని, దానిని వెడల్పు చేయకుండా సమాన పొడవుగా ఉంచి, దానిపై విభాగాలను గుర్తించి, పదమూడు సమ భాగాల ‘కలా’ ప్రమాణాన్ని ఏర్పరచాలి।

Word by Word

• tāla-patram: a palm leaf
• tāla-patram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāla (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd), Singular; 'a palm-leaf'

• sam-ādāya: having taken
• sam-ādāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having taken'

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally with samāyāma-avistaram

• sam-āyāma-avistaram: of equal length and breadth
• sam-āyāma-avistaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + avistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd), Singular; द्वन्द्व-समाहारः: 'equal in length and breadth' (i.e., not extended in width beyond length)

• tasmin: in it
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Locative (7th), Singular; 'in it'

• bhāgān: divisions/parts
• bhāgān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Plural; object of prakurvīta

• prakurvīta: should make/mark
• prakurvīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular; ātmanepada

• trayodaśa-samām: equal to thirteen
• trayodaśa-samām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayodaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular; agrees with kalām; 'equal to thirteen'

• kalām: a unit/portion (kalā)
• kalām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular; measure/portion

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes pramāṇa (right measure) as a sacred discipline; in Siddhānta, correct kriyā supports gradual loosening of pāśa through regulated action and focused cognition.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Pati (Shiva) is supported by niyama—careful, proportionate preparation—showing that outer precision can steady inner concentration and reverence.

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

The verse gives practical guidance for preparing a measured base/guide (using a palm leaf) used in constructing or arranging worship materials, emphasizing orderly saguna-upasana where form, proportion, and method are honored.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A ritual practice of measuring and marking equal divisions (kalā) before arranging worship items—supporting focused japa and dhyāna by reducing distraction and maintaining traditional proportional rules.