Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

प्रसन्नां गिरिजां कृत्वा वृषभध्वजमेव च । पूर्वोक्तं च विधिं कृत्वा स्थापितं लिंगमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

prasannāṃ girijāṃ kṛtvā vṛṣabhadhvajameva ca | pūrvoktaṃ ca vidhiṃ kṛtvā sthāpitaṃ liṃgamuttamam

Translation

గిరిజను (పార్వతి) మరియు వృషభధ్వజుడైన శివుని ప్రసన్నులుగా చేసి, ముందుగా చెప్పిన విధిని ఆచరించి, ఉత్తమమైన లింగాన్ని స్థాపించాడు.

Word by Word

• प्रसन्नाम्: pleased
• प्रसन्नाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying गिरिजाम्)

• गिरिजाम्: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि-जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• वृषभध्वजम्: the bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ-ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vṛṣabhasya dhvajaḥ)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूर्वोक्तम्: previously stated
• पूर्वोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व-उक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying विधिम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विधिम्: rite/procedure
• विधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• स्थापितम्: was established
• स्थापितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि

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

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying लिङ्गम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Culmination: after pleasing Girijā and Vṛṣabhadhvaja, and performing the prescribed vidhi, the ‘uttama liṅga’ is established—typical of a consecration moment that founds ongoing worship and stability (sthiti) for the world/community.

Significance: Liṅga-sthāpana (pratiṣṭhā) is portrayed as a world-stabilizing act; merit accrues through correct vidhi and honoring both Śiva and Devī.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s grace is approached through reverent devotion and correct sacred procedure: when Pārvatī and Śiva are pleased, the act of establishing the Liṅga becomes a powerful, auspicious gateway to Śiva’s presence and blessing.

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

The verse explicitly centers on Liṅga-sthāpana (installation), affirming Saguna worship: the Liṅga is treated as a sanctified seat of Śiva where devotion, ritual order (vidhi), and divine consent culminate in effective worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies following the “previously stated” worship-vidhi—purification, mantra-japa (notably Panchākṣarī: Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and formal installation—performed with bhakti to please Śiva and Pārvatī before commencing regular Liṅga-pūjā.