Shloka 23

Devanagari script

रात्रौ व्यवायः कर्तव्यो न दिवेति श्रुतिर्जगौ । दिवासंगे महान्दोषो निन्दा चापि दुरासदा

Transliteration

rātrau vyavāyaḥ kartavyo na diveti śrutirjagau | divāsaṃge mahāndoṣo nindā cāpi durāsadā

Translation

إنَّ التعاليمَ المقدّسةَ (الشروتي) تُعلن أنَّ الوصالَ الزوجي يُؤتى ليلًا لا نهارًا؛ فإنَّ الوصالَ نهارًا يجلبُ ذنبًا عظيمًا ويستدعي لومًا عسيرَ الزوال.

Word by Word

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (locative of time: 'at night')

• व्यवायः: sexual intercourse
• व्यवायः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कर्तव्यः: should be done
• कर्तव्यः: विधेय (Predicate; obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• दिवा: in the daytime
• दिवा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/दिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (locative of time: 'in daytime')

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• श्रुतिः: scriptural teaching
• श्रुतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जगौ: declared / said
• जगौ: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• दिवा-सङ्गे: in daytime association/union
• दिवा-सङ्गे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवा (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्धः: 'daytime-connection'); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• दोषः: fault
• दोषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निन्दा: censure
• निन्दा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• दुरासदा: hard to bear/avoid
• दुरासदा: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + आसद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (predicate adjective to निन्दा)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Umā/teaching dharma as narrated within the Umāsaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches discipline (niyama) within household life: even permitted desires should be regulated so the mind remains sattvic and fit for Shiva-bhakti and inward purity on the path toward liberation.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes purity, restraint, and consecrated living; by avoiding conduct deemed blameworthy, a devotee protects their ritual and mental purity, making daily Shiva-puja more effective and reverent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sense-regulation and purity: keep a disciplined routine supportive of Shiva-sadhana—such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintaining cleanliness before puja—rather than indulgence at improper times.