Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः

Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi

Devanagari script

शूद्रो नवागुलं कुर्यादिति मानमिदं स्मृतम् । कालदोषं विचार्य्यैव मनुदृष्टं विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

śūdro navāgulaṃ kuryāditi mānamidaṃ smṛtam | kāladoṣaṃ vicāryyaiva manudṛṣṭaṃ vivarjayet

Translation

所传之定量为：首陀罗当作九指幅。然而当细察时势与境况之过失时，凡仅出自摩奴之见而于当下不相宜者，当舍置之。

Word by Word

• शूद्रः: a Shudra
• शूद्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नवाङ्गुलम्: nine finger-breadths
• नवाङ्गुलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object—measure/extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha—quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• मानम्: the measure/standard
• मानम्: कर्ता (Karta—predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेष्य/सम्बन्ध (Sambandha—demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्मृतम्: is stated/remembered
• स्मृतम्: क्रिया (Kriyā—passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is remembered/declared’

• कालदोषम्: fault due to time/seasonal defect
• कालदोषम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कालस्य दोषः)

• विचार्य: having considered
• विचार्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā—prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) = ‘having considered’

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha—emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• मनुदृष्टम्: that prescribed by Manu
• मनुदृष्टम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु + दृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘seen/ordained by Manu’ (मनुना दृष्टम्)

• विवर्जयेत्: should avoid/omit
• विवर्जयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights adaptive dharma (kāla-deśa-parīkṣā): practice should serve purification and devotion, not rigid literalism—supporting a compassionate, grace-oriented approach to sādhana.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Manu

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes viveka (discernment): dharmic and ritual rules must be applied with awareness of time, place, and suitability, so that practice supports purity and devotion rather than rigid formalism—an attitude aligned with Shaiva devotion directed toward Shiva as Pati.

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana values correct observance, yet this verse highlights that external standards (such as measures) are subordinate to appropriateness and sincerity; when conditions make a rule unfit, one should adjust so the worship of Saguna Shiva remains dharmic and effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to keep ritual discipline (niyama) but apply it with contextual judgment—maintaining cleanliness, right intent, and steady japa (such as the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) even if certain external measurements or procedures must be adapted.