Shloka 50

Andhakeśvara-liṅga Māhātmya and Śiva’s Subjugation of Andhaka (अन्धकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्य तथा अन्धकवध-प्रसङ्ग)

Devanagari script

तिलकं वर्तुलं कार्यं स्नानं कार्यं सदा त्वया । शिवसन्ध्या च कर्तव्या गायत्री च तदीयिका

Transliteration

tilakaṃ vartulaṃ kāryaṃ snānaṃ kāryaṃ sadā tvayā | śivasandhyā ca kartavyā gāyatrī ca tadīyikā

Translation

You should always apply a round tilaka and always maintain purity through regular bathing. You must also perform the Śiva-sandhyā worship and recite the Gayatrī that belongs to Śiva.

Word by Word

• तिलकम्: tilaka mark
• तिलकम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• वर्तुलम्: circular/round
• वर्तुलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्तुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषण (तिलक-विशेषण)

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विधेय (to be done)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb: ‘always’)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: कर्ता (Agent in obligation/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person pronoun)

• शिवसन्ध्या: Śiva-sandhyā (Śiva twilight worship)
• शिवसन्ध्या: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘शिवस्य सन्ध्या’); प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कर्तव्या: must be performed
• कर्तव्या: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); विधेय (to be done)

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्री: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तदीयिका: his/that-related (pertaining to Śiva)
• तदीयिका: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तदीयिका (प्रातिपदिक; ‘belonging to him/that’)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); विशेषण (गायत्री-विशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating prescribed observances for Shiva worship to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General: daily Śiva-sandhyā and Śaiva-gāyatrī are presented as sustaining dharma and purifying the worshipper, preparing for fruitful liṅga-pūjā.

Mantra Metadata

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shaiva devotion is sustained by daily discipline—outer purity (snāna and tilaka) supporting inner purity (Śiva-sandhyā and mantra), aligning the devotee toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

These are preparatory and ongoing observances for Saguna Shiva worship—approaching the Linga with cleanliness, marked devotion (tilaka), and regular twilight rites, so the devotee’s body-mind becomes fit for Shiva-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain daily bathing, apply a round tilaka, perform Śiva-sandhyā at the sandhyā times, and recite Śiva’s Gayatrī as a steady mantra-practice alongside Shaiva worship.