Shloka 3

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

केन व्रतेन सन्तुष्टः शिवो यच्छति सत्सुखम् । कुशलश्शिवकृत्ये त्वं तस्मात्पृच्छामहे वयम्

Transliteration

kena vratena santuṣṭaḥ śivo yacchati satsukham | kuśalaśśivakṛtye tvaṃ tasmātpṛcchāmahe vayam

Translation

By what sacred vow (vrata) does Lord Śiva become pleased and bestow true, auspicious bliss? You are well-versed in Śiva’s rites and duties; therefore, we ask you this.

Word by Word

• केन: by which
• केन: Karana (करण/by what)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• व्रतेन: by what vow
• व्रतेन: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• सन्तुष्टः: satisfied
• सन्तुष्टः: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+तुष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यच्छति: gives/bestows
• यच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यम् (धातु; ददात्यर्थे)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सत्सुखम्: true/good happiness
• सत्सुखम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सत् सुखम्)

• कुशलः: skilled/competent
• कुशलः: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शिवकृत्ये: in Śiva’s service/rite
• शिवकृत्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य कृत्यम्)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययप्रायः (ablatival adverb); हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that reason)

• पृच्छामहे: we ask
• पृच्छामहे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sages at Naimisharanya (addressing Suta Goswami)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General jyotirliṅga/śiva-kṣetra logic implied: vrata and śiva-sevā are said to yield satsukha (auspicious bliss), classically mapped to kṣetra-darśana and liṅga-pūjā.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse frames a core Shaiva Siddhanta principle: when devotion is expressed through disciplined observance (vrata) aligned with Śiva-dharma, Śiva’s grace (anugraha) manifests as “sat-sukha”—lasting, purifying bliss that supports liberation.

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

It introduces an inquiry into the concrete means of pleasing Śiva through prescribed worship—typically centered on Saguna Śiva as the Liṅga (with offerings, mantra, and purity). Such worship becomes a doorway to realizing Śiva’s higher, transcendent nature through grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While this line itself asks the question, it points toward adopting a Śaiva vrata supported by regular Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and traditional Śaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa as part of disciplined practice.