Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 37

पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः

Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya

Devanagari script

लिंगं बेरं च मेतुल्यं यजतां लिंगमुत्तमम् । तस्माल्लिंगं परं पूज्यं बेरादपि मुमुक्षुभिः

Transliteration

liṃgaṃ beraṃ ca metulyaṃ yajatāṃ liṃgamuttamam | tasmālliṃgaṃ paraṃ pūjyaṃ berādapi mumukṣubhiḥ

Translation

Para sa Akin, ang Liṅga at ang itinalagang banal na larawan (bera) ay kapwa maihahambing bilang bagay ng pagsamba; subalit para sa mga sumasamba, ang pagsamba sa Liṅga ang pinakamataas. Kaya para sa mga naghahangad ng kalayaan (mokṣa), ang Liṅga ang lubhang karapat-dapat sambahin—higit pa kaysa sa larawan.

Word by Word

• liṅgam: liṅga (Śiva-emblem)
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular)

• beram: icon/image (bera)
• beram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• me: of me / my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• tulyam: equal
• tulyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• yajatām: of the worshippers
• yajatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle, śatṛ), षष्ठी बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• liṅgam: liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• uttamam: supreme / best
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययप्रयोग (ablatival adverbial use: 'therefore/from that')

• liṅgam: liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• param: highest
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• pūjyam: worthy to be worshipped
• pūjyam: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive participle: 'to be worshipped'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• berāt: than the icon / from the image
• berāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• api: even / also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-प्रयोग (particle: also/even)

• mumukṣubhiḥ: by seekers of liberation
• mumukṣubhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mumukṣu (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative agent-noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन (plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teaching on Liṅga worship to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General doctrine: liṅga as the preeminent focus for mumukṣus; in jyotirliṅga kṣetras this is concretized as the self-manifest/daiva liṅga granting mokṣa-oriented merit.

Significance: Liṅga-upāsanā is presented as especially mokṣa-prada for seekers, aligning with Siddhānta emphasis on Śiva’s anugraha through proper worship.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that while both icon (bera) and Liṅga can be valid supports for devotion, the Liṅga is especially extolled as the most direct, universal support for worship leading toward mokṣa, aligning devotion to Śiva with liberation-oriented practice.

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

It affirms Saguna worship through both forms, yet elevates the Liṅga because it points beyond fixed form toward Śiva’s transcendent reality, making it particularly suited for mumukṣus who seek to move from devotional support to liberating realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize Śiva-liṅga worship—especially abhiṣeka with mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as a steady daily sādhanā aimed at purification and liberation.