Shloka 25

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

नमः श्वभ्य इति प्रेम्णा गंधं दद्यादृचा सुधीः । नमस्तक्षभ्य इति चाक्षतान्मंत्रेण चार्पयेत्

Transliteration

namaḥ śvabhya iti premṇā gaṃdhaṃ dadyādṛcā sudhīḥ | namastakṣabhya iti cākṣatānmaṃtreṇa cārpayet

Translation

以爱敬之心，智者当诵“Namaḥ śvabhyaḥ”而奉献香馥之檀香膏（或香料）。继而诵“Namastakṣabhyaḥ”之咒，并献上akṣata——不碎之净谷——为供养。

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; नमस्कारार्थक

• श्वभ्यः: to the dogs (as mantra-address)
• श्वभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), बहुवचन (वैदिक/मन्त्र-प्रयोगे)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उक्तिसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय

• प्रेम्णा: with devotion
• प्रेम्णा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• गन्धम्: fragrance/perfume
• गन्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give/offer
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ऋचा: with an ṛk-verse
• ऋचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; नमस्कारार्थक

• तक्षभ्यः: to the carpenters/wood-cutters (as mantra-address)
• तक्षभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तक्षन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), बहुवचन (वैदिक/मन्त्र-प्रयोगे)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उक्तिसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय

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

• अक्षतान्: unbroken rice grains
• अक्षतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

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

• अर्पयेत्: should offer
• अर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it reflects Rudra’s gaṇa-cosmos by saluting classes of beings (śva/takṣa groups) while offering gandha and akṣata.

Significance: Teaches that Śiva-worship includes honoring Rudra’s retinue and cosmic powers; offerings of fragrance and akṣata cultivate auspiciousness and remove obstacles to darśana.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ‘नमः श्वभ्यः’ … ‘नमस्तक्षभ्यः’

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer offerings become spiritually effective when performed with prema (loving devotion) and mantra—directing the mind toward Pati (Shiva) while purifying the worshipper (paśu) from bonds (pāśa) through disciplined upacāra.

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

Gandha (fragrance) and akṣata are standard upacāras offered to the Shiva-Linga as Saguna Shiva—Shiva graciously approachable through form—so the devotee can concentrate, surrender, and cultivate bhakti that matures toward higher realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform sequential Linga-puja upacāras: offer fragrant paste (gandha) and then unbroken grains (akṣata), each accompanied by the specified Rudra-invocation mantras, maintaining a steady, affectionate, one-pointed remembrance of Shiva.