Shloka 68

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । उपविश्य वसिष्ठोथ संध्यायै तपसः क्रियाम् । तामाभाष्य यथान्यायं तत्रैवांतर्दधे मुनिः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | upaviśya vasiṣṭhotha saṃdhyāyai tapasaḥ kriyām | tāmābhāṣya yathānyāyaṃ tatraivāṃtardadhe muniḥ

Translation

Brahmā sprach: Darauf setzte sich Vasiṣṭha nieder und vollzog die Sandhyā (Dämmerungsverehrung), reich an Tapas. Nachdem er (sie) ordnungsgemäß nach der rechten Vorschrift unterwiesen hatte, verschwand der Weise an eben diesem Ort.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उपविश्य: having sat down
• उपविश्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + विश् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-आदेश)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having sat down’

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/अनन्तर्यसूचक अव्यय (then/now)

• संध्यायै: for Sandhyā (goddess)
• संध्यायै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• क्रियाम्: the rite/action
• क्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आभाष्य: having addressed
• आभाष्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + भाष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-आदेश)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having addressed/spoken to’

• यथा: according to
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (as/according to)

• न्यायम्: proper rule/justice
• न्यायम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘यथान्यायम्’ = ‘as is proper’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण निपात (indeed/just)

• अन्तर्दधे: disappeared
• अन्तर्दधे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर् + धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘disappeared/withdrew’

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Vasiṣṭha as a guru who transmits proper Sandhyā-vidhi and then becomes invisible, highlighting the guru’s role as a conduit of Śiva’s grace (anugraha) through right practice.

Significance: Emphasizes śuddhi (purificatory discipline) and adhikāra (fitness) for Śiva-bhakti through nitya-karma (Sandhyā).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: null

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vasistha
• Sandhya

FAQs

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

It highlights nitya-kriyā (daily sacred discipline): Sandhyā worship and tapas purify the soul (paśu) and make it fit for Shiva’s grace (Pati-anugraha), showing that liberation-oriented devotion is supported by regular dharmic practice.

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

Sandhyā worship establishes inner purity, mantra-readiness, and steadiness of mind—foundational qualifications for Saguna Shiva worship such as Linga-pūjā, japa, and vrata observances emphasized throughout the Rudrasaṃhitā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sandhyā-vandana (twilight worship) performed with tapas—regular prayer, mantra recitation, and disciplined conduct; as a Shaiva takeaway, it supports steady japa (including the Panchākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) and purity before Shiva worship.