Shloka 10

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

दश शैवव्रतान्याहुर्जाबालश्रुतिपारगाः । तानि व्रतानि यत्नेन कार्याण्येव द्विजैस्सदा

Transliteration

daśa śaivavratānyāhurjābālaśrutipāragāḥ | tāni vratāni yatnena kāryāṇyeva dvijaissadā

Translation

Die in der Jābāla-Śruti Bewanderten verkünden, es gebe zehn śaivische Gelübde (vrata), Śiva geweiht. Darum sollen die Zweimalgeborenen diese heiligen Gelübde stets mit Fleiß und Sorgfalt vollziehen.

Word by Word

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण (numeral adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनं (agreeing with व्रतानि)

• śaiva-vratāni: Śaiva vows
• śaiva-vratāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (1st case nominative plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुषः—शिवस्य सम्बन्धिनि व्रतानि

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• jābāla-śruti-pāragāḥ: those well-versed in the Jābāla Śruti
• jābāla-śruti-pāragāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jābāla (प्रातिपदिक) + śruti (प्रातिपदिक) + pāra-ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—जाबालश्रुतौ पारगाः (those who have gone to the far shore of Jābāla-śruti = well-versed)

• tāni: those
• tāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (accusative plural)

• vratāni: vows
• vratāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (2nd case accusative plural)

• yatnena: with effort
• yatnena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• kāryāṇi: to be performed
• kāryāṇi: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + ya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्—‘to be done’

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis)

• dvijaiḥ: by the twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvijaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific sthala; the verse grounds the vratas in ‘Jābāla-śruti’ authority, presenting vrata as a śāstric means to overcome pāśa (bondage).

Significance: Legitimizes disciplined observance (vrata) as a śāstra-rooted purifier; diligence (yatna) is stressed as the antidote to negligence, a form of tirodhāna (concealment) through mala/avidyā.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes that Shaiva vratas are not optional austerities but a disciplined devotional framework praised by śruti-authority, meant to purify the seeker and steady devotion toward Pati (Shiva) for spiritual uplift and liberation.

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

Vratas typically culminate in regulated worship—especially Linga-pūjā—where Saguna Shiva is approached through concrete acts (worship, purity, restraint). The verse validates such observances as an authoritative Shaiva path.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is consistent, careful observance of Shaiva vows—commonly paired with daily Shiva worship, mantra-japa (notably the Panchakshara), and purity disciplines that support meditation and devotion.