Shloka 13

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

त्रयोदश्यां सितायां तु कर्तव्यं निशि भोजनम् । असितायां तु भूतायां तत्र कार्यं शिवव्रतैः

Transliteration

trayodaśyāṃ sitāyāṃ tu kartavyaṃ niśi bhojanam | asitāyāṃ tu bhūtāyāṃ tatra kāryaṃ śivavrataiḥ

Translation

On the thirteenth lunar day (Trayodaśī) in the bright fortnight, one should take the meal at night. But when that thirteenth day falls in the dark fortnight, then the observances of Śiva’s vow should be performed on that occasion as prescribed.

Word by Word

• त्रयोदश्याम्: on the Trayodaśī (13th lunar day)
• त्रयोदश्याम्: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्

• सितायाम्: in the bright (fortnight)
• सितायाम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्तं कृदन्तम् (gerundive/obligative); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• निशि: at night
• निशि: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्

• भोजनम्: eating/meal
• भोजनम्: कर्ता (Subject; with kartavyam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• असितायाम्: in the dark (fortnight)
• असितायाम्: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (elliptically: 'असितायां (त्रयोदश्याम्)')

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः

• भूतायाम्: when it has come/when it is (so)
• भूतायाम्: अधिकरण (Time qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय) → भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भू-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं भूत-शब्दः (past participle used adjectivally: 'having occurred/being'); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied day)

• तत्र: there/in that case
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Place/Context adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb)

• कार्यम्: should be performed
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृ-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्तं कृदन्तम् (gerundive: 'to be done'); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• शिवव्रतैः: by/with Śiva-vows
• शिवव्रतैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; components: शिव + व्रत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Connects tithi-dharma (trayodaśī) to Śiva-vrata performance, aligning personal discipline with temple calendar observances (esp. pradoṣa-related ethos).

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches tithi-based discipline: aligning food and conduct with sacred lunar timing so that devotion (bhakti) becomes regulated, purifying, and fit for Shiva’s grace.

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

By prescribing when to eat and when to undertake Shiva-vrata observances, it supports outer worship of Saguna Shiva (often through Linga-puja) with inner restraint, making the offering and the worshiper ritually and mentally prepared.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observe Shiva-vrata according to the tithi—practice night-discipline (niśā-ācāra), keep restraint in food, and accompany the vow with Shiva-japa (e.g., the Panchakshara), along with customary Shaiva marks like bhasma and Rudraksha where prescribed.