Shloka 47

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

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

Devanagari script

षोडशैरुपचारैश्च प्रतिमा विप्रमंत्रकैः । ब्राह्मणानां भोजनेन निष्कामार्तिकरो भवेत्

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśairupacāraiśca pratimā vipramaṃtrakaiḥ | brāhmaṇānāṃ bhojanena niṣkāmārtikaro bhavet

Translation

以十六种供养礼敬圣像，并随学识渊博的婆罗门所诵真言而行，又施食供养婆罗门者，便成就无所求的清净供奉——不为私利而献的阿罗提（āratī）。

Word by Word

• ṣoḍaśaiḥ: with sixteen
• ṣoḍaśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; saṅkhyā-viśeṣaṇa (numeral adjective)

• upacāraiḥ: with offerings/services
• upacāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• pratimā: the image (idol)
• pratimā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• vipra-mantrakaiḥ: with Brahmin-mantras (mantras by Brahmins)
• vipra-mantrakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + mantraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (viprāṇāṃ mantrakāḥ) used adjectivally

• brāhmaṇānām: of Brahmins
• brāhmaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana

• bhojanena: by feeding (meal/feeding)
• bhojanena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana

• niṣkāma-ārtikaraḥ: a remover of distress without desire (disinterested benefactor)
• niṣkāma-ārtikaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣkāma (प्रातिपदिक) + ārtikara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya (niṣkāmaḥ ārtikaraḥ)

• bhavet: may become / should be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes niṣkāma-bhakti: worship with proper upacāra and service to brāhmaṇas refines intention, aligning the paśu toward grace rather than transactional merit.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship becomes spiritually fruitful when it is niṣkāma—offered to Lord Shiva without bargaining for results—supported by disciplined ritual (upacāras) and compassionate giving (feeding brāhmaṇas), which purifies the devotee’s intention.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna worship through a pratimā (icon) and formal upacāras; in Shaiva understanding this outward devotion steadies the mind, making it fit to realize Shiva as the inner Pati beyond form as well.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform ṣoḍaśopacāra pūjā (sixteen-step worship) with proper mantra-recitation and conclude with dāna in the form of feeding brāhmaṇas, cultivating niṣkāma-bhāva (selfless intent) during ārati.