Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

षष्ठ्याद्यमाश्च तिथयो नवम्यर्कदिने तथा । वर्ज्यास्सुरर्षयो यत्नाद्भक्तेन रदधावने

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭhyādyamāśca tithayo navamyarkadine tathā | varjyāssurarṣayo yatnādbhaktena radadhāvane

Translation

يُعلن الحكماء الإلهيون أنّ بعضَ التيثيّات ابتداءً من السادس، وكذلك التاسع، وأيضًا يوم الأحد، ينبغي للمتعبّد أن يتجنّبها بعناية عند تطهير الأسنان.

Word by Word

• षष्ठी-आद्यमाः: beginning with the sixth (tithi)
• षष्ठी-आद्यमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक) + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-आद्य = ‘षष्ठी से आरम्भ होने वाले’ (determinative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तिथयः: lunar days (tithis)
• तिथयः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• नवमी: the ninth (tithi)
• नवमी: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (तिथिवाचक)

• अर्क-दिने: on Sunday
• अर्क-दिने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अर्कस्य दिनम् = Sunday

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• वर्ज्याः: to be avoided
• वर्ज्याः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘वर्जनीयाः’ (to be avoided)

• सुर-ऋषयः: gods and sages
• सुर-ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः = देवाश्च ऋषयश्च

• यत्नात्: with effort/carefully
• यत्नात्: Hetu (हेतु/cause-manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (from effort; with effort)

• भक्तेन: by the devotee
• भक्तेन: Karta (कर्ता/agent, instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• रद-धावने: in/at tooth-cleaning
• रद-धावने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रद (प्रातिपदिक) + धावन (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; रदानां धावनम् = दन्तधावन (tooth-cleaning)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating the prescribed observances as taught by the sages within the Purāṇic discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Teaches calendrical restraint (kāla-niyama) as part of śauca and vrata-like discipline; reinforces that correct timing supports ritual efficacy and mental steadiness for Śiva-bhakti.

Characters & Entities

• Surarishis (divine sages)
• Surya (Arka)

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Śiva is supported by disciplined purity and mindful observance of auspicious/inauspicious times; outer restraint is used to steady inner reverence and sattvic conduct.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes śauca (ritual cleanliness) and niyama; by avoiding prohibited times for certain acts, the devotee protects the sanctity of daily Śiva-upāsanā and approaches Saguna Śiva with proper reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical niyama: avoid tooth-cleaning on the specified tithis and on Sunday; keep to regulated daily purity so that japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī) and pūjā are performed with steadiness and respect for scriptural injunctions.