Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 18

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

नमस्कारो जपश्चैव सर्वाभीष्टप्रदावुभौ । पूजान्ते च सदाकार्यौ भोगमोक्षार्थिभिर्नरैः

Transliteration

namaskāro japaścaiva sarvābhīṣṭapradāvubhau | pūjānte ca sadākāryau bhogamokṣārthibhirnaraiḥ

Translation

顶礼（namaskāra）与持诵（japa）二者，皆能赐予一切所愿成就。故于供养终了之时，凡求世间受用（bhoga）或求解脱（mokṣa）之人，皆当恒常行之。

Word by Word

• नमस्कारः: salutation
• नमस्कारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• जपः: recitation (japa)
• जपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• सर्व-अभीष्ट-प्रदौ: givers of all desired (boons)
• सर्व-अभीष्ट-प्रदौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अभीष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ("giver of all desired (things)")

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (dual pronoun)

• पूजा-अन्ते: at the end of worship
• पूजा-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ("at the end of worship")

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• कार्यौ: to be done/should be performed
• कार्यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (कृदन्त; √कृ + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative), अर्थः—‘कर्तव्यौ/should be done’

• भोग-मोक्ष-अर्थिभिः: by seekers of enjoyment and liberation
• भोग-मोक्ष-अर्थिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (भोग+मोक्ष) + तत्पुरुष (अर्थिन् = seeker of)

• नरैः: by men/people
• नरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General injunction for concluding pūjā with namaskāra and japa; not a site-specific narrative.

Significance: Frames japa and prostration as universal ‘sādhana-closures’ that seal the worship and yield both bhoga and mokṣa—bridging worldly aims and liberation within Śaiva devotion.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-worship becomes complete through two inner acts—humble surrender (namaskara) and steady remembrance (japa)—which mature devotion into both worldly well-being and the highest release.

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

Linga-puja is not only external offering; it culminates in bowing to Shiva as the Lord (Pati) and repeating His mantra, turning ritual into direct devotional connection with Saguna Shiva and leading the mind toward the Nirguna truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Conclude Shiva-puja with full namaskara and japa—especially Panchakshara mantra japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—as a daily discipline; this is the key takeaway implied by the verse.