Shloka 12

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

निगडान्मुक्तिकामस्तु सहस्रं सर्द्धमुत्तमम् । महाराजभये पंचशतं ज्ञेयं विचक्षणैः

Transliteration

nigaḍānmuktikāmastu sahasraṃ sarddhamuttamam | mahārājabhaye paṃcaśataṃ jñeyaṃ vicakṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

బంధనాల నుండి విముక్తి కోరువాడు ఉత్తమంగా వెయ్యిన్నర సార్లు జపించాలి. అయితే మహారాజ భయం (రాజదండ భయం) ఉన్నప్పుడు వివేకులు ఐదువందల జపమే సరిపోతుందని తెలుసుకోవాలి.

Word by Word

• निगडात्: from fetters, from shackles
• निगडात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निगड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• मुक्तिकामः: one desiring liberation
• मुक्तिकामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति- काम (प्रातिपदिक; मुक्ति + काम)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (desiring liberation)

• तु: indeed, however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सार्धम्: with (an additional half); and a half
• सार्धम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-भाववाचक अव्यय (adverb: together with/and a half)

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महाराजभये: in (the situation of) fear of a great king
• महाराजभये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-राज-भय (प्रातिपदिक; महा + राज + भय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (in fear from a great king / royal fear)

• पञ्चशतम्: five hundred
• पञ्चशतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known, is to be understood
• ज्ञेयम्: Vidhi (विधि/prescriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तव्य/विधेयार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विचक्षणैः: by the discerning (people)
• विचक्षणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument-Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā’s instruction on Shiva-worship and mantra-japa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva-mantra japa as a practical means to loosen bondage (pāśa) and move toward freedom (mukti), giving clear counts to align effort with intention—liberation as the highest aim, and protection in worldly danger as an immediate aim.

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

In the Shiva Purana’s devotional method, Saguna Shiva is approached through concrete disciplines—Linga-worship and mantra repetition. This verse supports that path by prescribing japa counts that stabilize devotion and invoke Shiva’s grace for both spiritual release and timely protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A counted practice of mantra-japa (repetition with a fixed number), traditionally done with a mala and supported by Shaiva disciplines like purity, devotion, and (where taught in context) Tripundra and Rudraksha as aids to focused worship.