Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

सतीचरिते पितृगृहे आशीर्वाद-वचनम् तथा यौवनारम्भः — Satī at her father’s house: blessings and the onset of youth

Devanagari script

आश्विने मासि नन्दायां तिथावानर्च भक्तितः । गुडौदनैस्सलवणैर्हरं नत्वा निनाय तम्

Transliteration

āśvine māsi nandāyāṃ tithāvānarca bhaktitaḥ | guḍaudanaissalavaṇairharaṃ natvā nināya tam

Translation

Im Monat Āśvina, am glückverheißenden Nandā‑Tithi, verehrte sie in hingebungsvoller Bhakti. Dann verneigte sie sich vor Hara (Herrn Śiva) und brachte süßen Reis mit Jaggery sowie salzige Speisen dar und vollzog so jenes Ritual.

Word by Word

• āśvine: in (the month) Āśvina
• āśvine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśvina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; adjective qualifying māsi

• māsi: in the month
• māsi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• nandāyām: on the Nandā (tithi)
• nandāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; (tithi-name)

• tithau: on the lunar day
• tithau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• āna: (prefix) towards/near
• āna: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā- (उपसर्ग) + nī (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/त्वान्त? (actually ल्यप्/क्त्वा not); here 'āna' as prefixal element in sandhi with arca; treated as part of verb-form ānarca (see next)

• arca: worshipped
• arca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ/लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; with prefix ā- → ānarca = 'worshipped'

• bhaktitaḥ: out of devotion / devoutly
• bhaktitaḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; used adverbially (भावे)

• guḍa-odanaiḥ: with sweet rice (jaggery-rice)
• guḍa-odanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + odana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-like) 'guḍena yuktaḥ odanaḥ' → 'sweet rice'

• sa-lavaṇaiḥ: with salt (salty items)
• sa-lavaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + lavaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; 'sa-' = 'with' as prefix; agreeing with guḍa-odanaiḥ as offering-items

• haram: Hara (Śiva)
• haram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• natvā: having bowed
• natvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ktvā), 'having bowed'

• nināya: led / took
• nināya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni- (उपसर्ग) + nī (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ/लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes bhakti expressed through disciplined observance (tithi-based vrata) and humble surrender to Hara; devotion becomes a means of aligning the soul (paśu) with the Lord (Pati) through reverent worship and offering.

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

The verse portrays Saguna worship—bowing to Hara and offering naivedya—typical of Shiva-Pūjā to the Liṅga, where tangible offerings and devotion serve as supports for inner contemplation of Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A tithi-observance in Āśvina with Shiva-pūjā, namaskāra, and naivedya offering (sweet rice and salted food); it can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as the meditative core.