Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 6

नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

अथ सा द्विजपत्नी हि ब्रह्मचर्य्यव्रतान्विता । पार्थिवार्चनपूर्वं हि तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्

Transliteration

atha sā dvijapatnī hi brahmacaryyavratānvitā | pārthivārcanapūrvaṃ hi tapastepe sudāruṇam

Translation

随后，那位二次生者之妻坚守梵行誓（brahmacarya），先礼拜以土塑成的帕尔提瓦圣林伽（Pārthiva-liṅga，湿婆之土制圣相），继而修行极其严峻的苦行（tapas）。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• द्विजपत्नी: wife of a Brahmin
• द्विजपत्नी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजस्य पत्नी), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed)

• ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतान्विता: endowed with the vow of celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतान्विता: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य + व्रत + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मचर्यस्य व्रतेन अन्विता / ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतैः अन्विता), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (सा/द्विजपत्नी)

• पार्थिवार्चनपूर्वम्: after first worshipping an earthen (linga)
• पार्थिवार्चनपूर्वम्: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकार-अधिकरण/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पार्थिव + अर्चन + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (पार्थिव-अर्चनं पूर्वं यस्य/पूर्वकं), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial: having first done...)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तेपे: performed (austerity)
• तेपे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सुदारुणम्: very severe
• सुदारुणम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (अत्यन्तं दारुणम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तपः इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This is a vrata/arcana pivot: Pārthiva-liṅga (earth-made) worship as the upāya leading to Śiva’s grace; it supports the chapter’s Nandikeśvara-liṅga māhātmya by showing how liṅga-arcana transforms karmic suffering.

Significance: Highlights the merit of Pārthiva-liṅga pūjā (especially for those in distress): tapas + liṅga-arcana as a direct route to Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva principle that inner discipline (brahmacarya) and focused devotion, expressed through Liṅga worship and tapas, purify the pashu (bound soul) and draw the grace of Pati (Śiva) toward liberation and auspicious attainments.

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

By specifying Pārthiva arcana, the verse points to Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through a tangible emblem (liṅga) as a compassionate support for concentration, devotion, and surrender, which ripen into Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pārthiva Liṅga pūjā accompanied by strict vrata—especially brahmacarya—along with mantra-japa (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and sustained tapas as one’s capacity permits.