Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

ये वै मानुष्यमाश्रित्य मुख्यं संतानतस्सुखम् । तेन पूज्यो महादेवः सर्वकार्यार्थसाधकः

Transliteration

ye vai mānuṣyamāśritya mukhyaṃ saṃtānatassukham | tena pūjyo mahādevaḥ sarvakāryārthasādhakaḥ

Translation

凡依止人身而以子嗣之乐为首要幸福者——因此当礼敬大天（Mahādeva），因为祂能成就一切事业中的诸般目标与所求。

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

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

• मानुष्यम्: human state/life
• मानुष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to
• आश्रित्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; उपसर्गः आ-; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having resorted to)

• मुख्यम्: chief, principal
• मुख्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सुखम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• संतानतः: from progeny/offspring
• संतानतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संतानतः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'from/through progeny')

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तेन: therefore / by that
• तेन: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-तृतीया (therefore/by that reason)

• पूज्यः: worthy to be worshipped
• पूज्यः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पूज् (धातु) यत् (कृदन्त; पूज्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: 'to be worshipped')

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• सर्व-कार्य-अर्थ-साधकः: accomplisher of all aims and tasks
• सर्व-कार्य-अर्थ-साधकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + साधक (प्रातिपदिक; √साध् (धातु) ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां कार्याणाम् अर्थानां च साधकः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Connects household aims (especially progeny/lineage) to Śiva’s role as sarvakāryārthasādhaka, encouraging gṛhastha devotion as a legitimate path that can mature into liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that even desires rooted in worldly life (such as happiness through progeny) should be oriented toward Mahādeva, the supreme Pati, because He alone can truly ‘accomplish’ outcomes while also guiding the soul toward higher good beyond mere pleasure.

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

It supports Saguna worship—approaching Mahādeva as the compassionate Lord who grants tangible fruits. Linga-pūjā is a primary Shaiva mode for householders to seek orderly dharma, prosperity, and grace, while remembering that all fruits ultimately arise by Śiva’s will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is regular Mahādeva-pūjā—especially Linga abhiṣeka—along with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), performed with devotion for the fulfillment of rightful aims and inner purification.