Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 51

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

एवं कुर्याद्यथाशक्ति क्रमाच्छिव पदं लभेत् । नित्यं रुचिकरं त्वेकं मंत्रमामरणांतिकम्

Transliteration

evaṃ kuryādyathāśakti kramācchiva padaṃ labhet | nityaṃ rucikaraṃ tvekaṃ maṃtramāmaraṇāṃtikam

Translation

如是依自力而行，循序渐进，便能渐得“湿婆之位”（Śivapada）。因此，当每日执持一则悦心之真言，恒常不辍，直至生命终尽。

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'thus'

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā-śakti: according to one’s capacity
• yathā-śakti: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'according to ability'

• kramāt: gradually / in sequence
• kramāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-अर्थे क्रियाविशेषण), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śiva: of Śiva
• śiva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); genitive relation with 'padam'

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• labhet: would attain
• labhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया) meaning 'always'

• ruci-karam: pleasing
• ruci-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ruci (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying 'mantram'

• tu: but
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/contrast particle (व्यतिरेक-निपात)

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying 'mantram'

• mantram: mantra
• mantram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ā-maraṇa-antikam: up to death / lifelong
• ā-maraṇa-antikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + maraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva with 'ā' meaning 'up to'; adjective qualifying 'mantram'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady, capacity-based sādhana—especially daily mantra-japa—purifies the soul and leads step by step to Śiva-pada (union with/attainment of Śiva) through grace and disciplined practice.

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

A single chosen mantra, repeated daily, is a core Saguna Śiva practice often performed alongside Liṅga-pūjā; the constancy of japa stabilizes devotion and gradually opens realization of Śiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily repetition of one beloved Śiva-mantra (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) maintained consistently throughout life as a primary discipline.