Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

विग्रहं पूजयेद्‌ यो वै लिड्7ं वापि महात्मन: । लिड्ं पूजयिता नित्यं महतीं श्रियमश्नुते,जो महात्मा शंकरके श्रीविग्रह अथवा लिंगकी पूजा करता है, वह लिंगपूजक सदा बहुत बड़ी सम्पत्तिका भागी होता है

Transliteration

vigrahaṁ pūjayed yo vai liṅgaṁ vāpi mahātmanaḥ | liṅgaṁ pūjayitā nityaṁ mahatīṁ śriyam aśnute ||

Translation

风神伐由说道：“凡礼敬那位大心主宰（商羯罗，Śaṅkara）的圣像或林伽者，如此恒常礼拜林伽之人，必得广大福泽与丰盛资财。”

Word by Word

• विग्रहम्: the image/form (idol)
• विग्रहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पूजयिता: the worshipper
• पूजयिता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूज्
• Form: Agent noun (tṛc/तृच्; -तृ/-ता), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• महतीम्: great
• महतीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• श्रियम्: prosperity/fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अश्नुते: attains/enjoys
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• vigraha (icon/image)
• liṅga

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Regular worship of Śaṅkara—whether in the form of an icon (vigraha) or the liṅga—is presented as a dharmic practice that yields tangible auspicious results, especially prosperity (śrī).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is speaking and commending devotion to Śiva, stating that one who consistently performs worship of Śiva’s icon or liṅga attains great fortune.