Shloka 44

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

यो वैदिकमनादृत्य कर्म स्मार्तमथापि वा । अन्यत्समाचरेन्मर्त्यो न संकल्पफलं लभेत्

Transliteration

yo vaidikamanādṛtya karma smārtamathāpi vā | anyatsamācarenmartyo na saṃkalpaphalaṃ labhet

Translation

凡人若轻慢吠陀之本分，乃至连斯摩尔塔之仪轨亦不敬，而转行他法，便不能获得其所立誓愿之意（saṅkalpa）所期之果。

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who (a person who)
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• vaidikam: Vedic
• vaidikam: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaidika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम्—karma

• anādṛtya: having disregarded
• anādṛtya: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: an- + √dṛ (दृ/दर् धातु ‘to respect/heed’) ; gerund (कृदन्त—ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव); ‘not respecting/ignoring’

• karma: ritual act
• karma: Karma (कर्म/Object—of samācaret)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• smārtam: Smārta (based on Smṛti)
• smārtam: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम्—karma

• atha: or else/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb (अनन्तर/विकल्पार्थक)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि—‘also/even’)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय—‘or’)

• anyat: something else
• anyat: Karma (कर्म/Object—‘other (act)’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम्—(karma understood)

• samācaret: should practice/perform
• samācaret: Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√car (चर् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• martyaḥ: a mortal
• martyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: martya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to yaḥ

• na: not
• na: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेधार्थक अव्यय)

• saṃkalpa-phalam: the fruit of the intention/vow
• saṃkalpa-phalam: Karma (कर्म/Object—of labhet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘संकल्पस्य फलम्’

• labhet: would obtain
• labhet: Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual effort must be rooted in śāstra (Veda and Smṛti). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, discipline aligned with rightful injunctions purifies the paśu (bound soul) and makes worship effective; whimsical or non-authoritative practice fails to yield the intended fruit.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-upāsanā bear fruit when performed with proper vidhi—right saṅkalpa, mantra, and observances as taught by Vedic/Smārta tradition. Disregarding those foundations weakens the ritual’s efficacy and the devotee’s inner alignment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Follow a scripture-based saṅkalpa and vidhi for Shiva worship—such as Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with purity rules, and traditional observances like bhasma/tripundra and vrata performed according to authorized guidance.