Shloka 14

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

निशि यत्नेन कर्तव्यं भोजनं सोमवासरे । उभयोः पक्षयोर्विष्णो सर्वस्मिञ्छिव तत्परैः

Transliteration

niśi yatnena kartavyaṃ bhojanaṃ somavāsare | ubhayoḥ pakṣayorviṣṇo sarvasmiñchiva tatparaiḥ

Translation

On Mondays, one should carefully take one’s meal at night. O Viṣṇu, those devoted to Śiva should observe this discipline in both fortnights (waxing and waning) and at all times, remaining intent on Śiva.

Word by Word

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

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्

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

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

• सोमवासरे: on Monday
• सोमवासरे: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम-वासर (प्रातिपदिक; components: सोम + वासर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोगे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), द्विवचनम् (Dual)

• पक्षयोः: of the two fortnights
• पक्षयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), द्विवचनम् (Dual)

• विष्णो: O Viṣṇu
• विष्णो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सर्वस्मिन्: in all (cases/times)
• सर्वस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Scope/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• शिव: O Śiva
• शिव: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तत्परैः: by those devoted to that (vow/observance)
• तत्परैः: कर्ता (Agent; by whom)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक; components: तत् + पर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural); विशेषणम् (of implied persons)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-vrata observances within the Kotirudra Samhita)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Somavāra (Monday) discipline is a classic Śiva-bhakti marker; supports sustained niyama for devotees across both pakṣas.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined devotion: regulating food on Somavāra (Monday) and maintaining steady Śiva-centered intent across both lunar fortnights, so the mind becomes fit for bhakti and grace.

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

Somavāra observances are classic supports for Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—where bodily restraint (niyama) strengthens single-pointed devotion to Śiva’s worshipful form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A Somavāra vrata practice: eat only at night with care and restraint, and keep the mind devoted to Śiva—ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular Linga worship.