Shloka 15

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

व्रतेष्वेतेषु सर्वेषु शैवा भोज्याः प्रयत्नतः । यथाशक्ति द्विजश्रेष्ठा व्रतसंपूर्तिहेतवे

Transliteration

vrateṣveteṣu sarveṣu śaivā bhojyāḥ prayatnataḥ | yathāśakti dvijaśreṣṭhā vratasaṃpūrtihetave

Translation

Bei all diesen Gelübden sollen die Śiva-Ergebenen mit Sorgfalt und aufrichtigem Bemühen gespeist werden, o Bester der Zweimalgeborenen, nach eigener Kraft; denn diese Speisung ist ein Mittel zur vollendeten Erfüllung und Frucht des Gelübdes.

Word by Word

• व्रतेषु: in vows/observances
• व्रतेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• एतेषु: in these
• एतेषु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• शैवाः: Śaivas (devotees of Śiva)
• शैवाः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• भोज्याः: to be fed/served food
• भोज्याः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भुज् (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative); भाव्य/योग्य (to be fed)

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort, carefully
• प्रयत्नतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्नतः (अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• यथा-शक्ति: according to one’s ability
• यथा-शक्ति: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• द्विजश्रेष्ठाः: O best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजश्रेष्ठाः: सम्बोधन/कर्ता-संबन्ध (Vocative sense; addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (dvijānāṃ śreṣṭhāḥ)

• व्रत-संपूर्ति-हेतवे: for the sake of completing the vow
• व्रत-संपूर्ति-हेतवे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + संपूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (purpose/cause)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Annadāna/feeding Śaivas is presented as a vrata-sādhana that completes observance—mirrors temple feeding (annakṣetra) culture at major Śiva kṣetras.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that a Shaiva vrata is fulfilled not only by personal austerity but also by bhakti expressed as seva—especially feeding Shiva’s devotees—so the vow becomes complete through compassion, humility, and right intention.

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

In Saguna worship, honoring Shiva includes honoring those devoted to Him; serving Shaiva devotees is treated as an extension of Linga-puja, making devotion tangible through respectful hospitality and charity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As part of the vrata’s concluding acts, offer food (bhojana) and charity (dāna) to Shaiva devotees according to your means, maintaining a devotional attitude—optionally with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while serving.