Shloka 73

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

तदूर्ध्वं हि व्रजंत्येव निष्कामा लिंगपूजकाः । तदर्वाक्परिवर्तंते शिवान्यसुरपूजकाः

Transliteration

tadūrdhvaṃ hi vrajaṃtyeva niṣkāmā liṃgapūjakāḥ | tadarvākparivartaṃte śivānyasurapūjakāḥ

Translation

جو بے خواہش ہو کر شِو لِنگ کی پوجا کرتے ہیں وہ اوپر، اعلیٰ الٰہی حالت کی طرف جاتے ہیں؛ مگر جو شِو کے سوا دوسرے دیوتاؤں اور اسوروں کی پوجا کرتے ہیں وہ نیچے کی راہ کی طرف پلٹ جاتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• तद्-ऊर्ध्वम्: above that
• तद्-ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् (adverb): 'above that'

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• व्रजन्ति: they go
• व्रजन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

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

• निष्कामाः: the desireless (people)
• निष्कामाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; गुणवाचक-नाम (desireless ones)

• लिङ्ग-पूजकाः: liṅga-worshippers
• लिङ्ग-पूजकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: लिङ्गस्य पूजकाः (worshippers of the liṅga)

• तद्-अर्वाक्: below that
• तद्-अर्वाक्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्वाक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् (adverb): 'below that'

• परिवर्तन्ते: they revolve/return
• परिवर्तन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• शिव-अन्य-असुर-पूजकाः: worshippers of asuras other than Śiva
• शिव-अन्य-असुर-पूजकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: शिवात् अन्याः असुराः (non-Śiva demons/other asuras) तेषां पूजकाः (worshippers)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General liṅga-upāsanā teaching: niṣkāma liṅga-pūjā leads upward; diversion to other devatās/asuric powers is portrayed as a downward-turning course.

Significance: Affirms liṅga worship as a direct Śaiva means (upāya) when performed without desire; warns against fruit-seeking syncretism that dilutes Śiva-niṣṭhā.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Asuras

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that niṣkāma (desireless) devotion to Śiva—especially through liṅga-pūjā—elevates the soul toward liberation, while desire-driven or misdirected worship leads to continued downward return in saṃsāra.

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

It presents the Śiva-liṅga as the primary saguna support for worship that purifies intention; when worship is offered without craving for results, it becomes a direct means for rising toward Śiva’s grace and higher attainment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice liṅga-pūjā with niṣkāma bhāva—offer water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) without seeking worldly rewards, focusing instead on inner purification and surrender to Śiva.