Shloka 28

Dāruvana-parīkṣā: Śaṅkara’s Test and the Linga’s Ritual-Theological Grounding

Devanagari script

यावल्लिंगं स्थिरं नैव जगतां त्रितये शुभम् । जायते न तदा क्वापि सत्यमेतद्वदाम्यहम्

Transliteration

yāvalliṃgaṃ sthiraṃ naiva jagatāṃ tritaye śubham | jāyate na tadā kvāpi satyametadvadāmyaham

Translation

లింగం స్థిరంగా ప్రతిష్ఠింపబడే వరకు, మూడు లోకాలలో ఎక్కడా శుభం కలుగదు; ఇదే సత్యం—నేను ప్రకటిస్తున్నాను।

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: कालाधिकरण (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/सम्बन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative), काल-परिमाणार्थक (as long as)

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्थिरम्: steady, fixed
• स्थिरम्: कर्तृ-विशेषण (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• न: not
• न: निषेध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: विशेषण-निपात (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• जगताम्: of the worlds/beings
• जगताम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• त्रितये: in the triad (threefold)
• त्रितये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspiciousness, good (result)
• शुभम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (फल/भाव)

• जायते: arises, is born
• जायते: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; धातु: जन् (प्रादुर्भावे)

• न: not
• न: निषेध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• क्वापि: anywhere
• क्वापि: देशाधिकरण (spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक प्रश्न/अनिश्चित-अव्यय (indefinite locative adverb)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: कर्ता/विधेय (predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्ता/विधेय (this—subject/predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वदामि: I say
• वदामि: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: वद् (भाषणे)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General liṅga-pratiṣṭhā doctrine: until Śiva’s liṅga is firmly established (pratiṣṭhita), the worlds lack śubha—implying cosmic order depends on Śiva’s presence as the axis (skambha) of the three worlds.

Significance: Affirms that establishing/enshrining the liṅga (pratiṣṭhā) and maintaining its worship sustains auspiciousness and welfare for all beings, not merely the individual devotee.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Three Worlds (Trailokya)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that the established Śiva-liṅga functions as the sacred support of order and grace for all realms; without steadfast devotion and proper installation of the Liṅga-principle, true welfare (śubha) does not manifest.

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

It affirms Saguna upāsanā: when Śiva is approached through the Liṅga—installed, honored, and kept steady in worship—the devotee and the world receive auspiciousness, reflecting Śiva’s accessible, compassionate form for grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Establish the Liṅga firmly (pratiṣṭhā) in one’s shrine or heart through daily abhiṣeka, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), Rudrākṣa, and steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” maintaining unwavering regularity.