Shloka 97

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

पुरुषत्वादिगर्भो हि गर्भवाञ्जनको यतः । पुरुषात्प्रकृतो युक्तं प्रथमं जन्म कथ्यते

Transliteration

puruṣatvādigarbho hi garbhavāñjanako yataḥ | puruṣātprakṛto yuktaṃ prathamaṃ janma kathyate

Translation

کیونکہ گربھوان جنک (برہما) اپنے اندر ‘پُرُشتو’ وغیرہ کے بیج دھارے ہوئے ہے، اس لیے پُرُش کے ساتھ یُکت پرکرتی کا ظہور ہی ‘پہلا جنم’ کہا جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• puruṣatva-ādi-garbhaḥ: the embryo/seed consisting of (qualities) beginning with puruṣatva
• puruṣatva-ādi-garbhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣatva (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (puruṣatva-ādi = 'beginning with puruṣatva' qualifying garbha)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—'indeed/for'

• garbhavān: the one possessing an embryo (pregnant one)
• garbhavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• janakaḥ: the progenitor/father
• janakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• yataḥ: because/for which reason
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Cause marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (relative adverb), हेतौ—'because/from which/wherefore'

• puruṣāt: from Puruṣa
• puruṣāt: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• prakṛtaḥ: arisen/produced
• prakṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied 'garbhaḥ/janma')

• yuktam: appropriate/fitting
• yuktam: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √yuj)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used predicatively

• prathamam: first
• prathamam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण

• janma: birth
• janma: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• kathyate: is said/called
• kathyate: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Interprets cosmogony as the first ‘birth’—Prakṛti conjoined with Puruṣa—helping pilgrims read creation as dependent on the Lord and His power rather than autonomous matter.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmogonic ‘first birth’ (prathama-janma) described as Puruṣa–Prakṛti conjunction initiating manifestation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Purusha
• Prakriti

FAQs

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

It frames creation as the initial conjunction of consciousness (Puruṣa) and primordial nature (Prakṛti), implying that bondage and experience arise only when the soul-conscious principle is associated with nature—while Shiva (Pati) remains the transcendent Lord who enables and governs the process.

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

By distinguishing Puruṣa and Prakṛti as the basis of manifested existence, the verse supports Linga worship as contemplation of Shiva as Pati—beyond both—while also approachable as Saguna Shiva who presides over creation, sustenance, and dissolution.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the witnessing Lord distinct from Prakṛti, and reinforce that insight through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating disidentification from the guṇas and turning the mind toward liberation.