Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

चैत्रे शुक्लचतुर्दश्यां पलाशैर्दमनैश्शिवम् । अपूजयद्दिवारात्रौ संस्मरन् सा निनाय तम्

Transliteration

caitre śuklacaturdaśyāṃ palāśairdamanaiśśivam | apūjayaddivārātrau saṃsmaran sā nināya tam

Translation

Am vierzehnten Mondtag der hellen Monatshälfte im Monat Caitra verehrte sie Herrn Śiva mit Palāśa-Blüten und Damana-Blättern. Unablässig an Ihn denkend, verbrachte sie jene Zeit in Hingabe – bei Tag und bei Nacht.

Word by Word

• चैत्रे: in (the month of) Caitra
• चैत्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — ‘चैत्र-मासे’

• शुक्ल-चतुर्दश्याम्: on the bright fortnight’s fourteenth (tithi)
• शुक्ल-चतुर्दश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — तिथौ; शुक्लपक्षस्य चतुर्दशी (genitive-tatpuruṣa sense)

• पलाशैः: with palāśa flowers/leaves
• पलाशैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — करण

• दमनैः: with damana (fragrant herb)
• दमनैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — करण

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अपूजयत्: (she) worshipped
• अपूजयत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• दिवा-रात्रौ: by day and by night
• दिवा-रात्रौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), द्विवचन — कालाधिकरण; ‘दिवा च रात्रौ च’

• संस्मरन्: remembering
• संस्मरन्: कर्ता (Kartā—participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘remembering’

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• निनाय: (she) spent/passed
• निनाय: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तम्: that (time/day)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — ‘that (time/day)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it highlights śukla-caturdaśī worship (often resonant with Śiva-related observances) with specific flowers/leaves and continuous smaraṇa day and night.

Significance: General benefit: uninterrupted remembrance (divārātrau saṃsmaran) is presented as the inner core of worship, beyond external offerings—leading toward Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti as steady smaraṇa (constant remembrance) of Pati, Śiva—devotion sustained through day and night—showing that inner recollection is as vital as outer offerings.

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

The verse presents Saguna worship through tangible offerings (flowers and leaves) while emphasizing the inner act of meditation; this same spirit applies to Liṅga-pūjā where the form supports concentration on Śiva as the supreme Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observing a Caturdaśī vrata with sustained pūjā and japa/smaraṇa—keeping the mind on Śiva continuously (day and night)—is the key takeaway, supported by simple offerings in worship.