Shloka 35

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

लब्धानुज्ञस्तु गुरुणा द्वादशाहं पयोव्रती । शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्थ्यां वा दशम्यां वा विधानतः

Transliteration

labdhānujñastu guruṇā dvādaśāhaṃ payovratī | śuklapakṣe caturthyāṃ vā daśamyāṃ vā vidhānataḥ

Translation

Having obtained his guru’s permission, he should observe the milk-vow for twelve days, performing it according to rule—on the fourth lunar day or on the tenth, in the bright fortnight.

Word by Word

• लब्ध-अनुज्ञः: one who has obtained permission
• लब्ध-अनुज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध (√लभ् धातु) + अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) + तत्पुरुष-समास (अनुज्ञा लब्धा यस्य)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/पदार्थ-विशेषक (particle: but/indeed)

• गुरुणा: by the teacher/guru
• गुरुणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• द्वादश-अहम्: for twelve days (a period of twelve days)
• द्वादश-अहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अहन्/अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (द्वादश अहानि = twelve days)

• पयः-व्रती: one observing a milk-only vow
• पयः-व्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पयः एव व्रतम् यस्य/पयः-व्रतं आचरति)

• शुक्ल-पक्षे: in the bright fortnight
• शुक्ल-पक्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (शुक्लः पक्षः)

• चतुर्थ्याम्: on the fourth (lunar day)
• चतुर्थ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (तिथिवाचक)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive: or)

• दशम्याम्: on the tenth (lunar day)
• दशम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (तिथिवाचक)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• विधानतः: according to the prescribed rule
• विधानतः: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); अर्थः—विधानेन/विधिपूर्वकम् (according to rule)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shaiva practice is not merely personal preference but a disciplined sādhana done under the guru’s sanction, using regulated vows (vrata) to purify the devotee for Shiva-realization.

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

A payovrata is a preparatory observance that refines body and mind, making the devotee fit for ritual approach to Saguna Shiva—especially Linga worship—where purity, timing, and correct procedure are central.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A twelve-day payovrata (subsisting on milk) begun in the bright fortnight, specifically aligned to Chaturthi or Dashami, undertaken with the guru’s permission and adherence to prescribed rules.