Shloka 41

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

ततः संप्रार्थयेच्छंभुं नतस्कन्धः कृताञ्जलिः । कृतसम्पूर्ण व्रतको नत्वा तं च पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

tataḥ saṃprārthayecchaṃbhuṃ nataskandhaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ | kṛtasampūrṇa vratako natvā taṃ ca punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, with shoulders bowed and palms joined in reverence, having duly completed the vow in full, one should earnestly pray to Śambhu (Lord Śiva), bowing to Him again and again.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereafter)

• संप्रार्थयेत्: should earnestly pray
• संप्रार्थयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शंभुम्: Śambhu (Shiva)
• शंभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नतस्कन्धः: with bowed shoulders/neck
• नतस्कन्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत-स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक); नत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नतः स्कन्धः यस्य) — bowed-shouldered/with bowed neck

• कृताञ्जलिः: with hands joined (in añjali)
• कृताञ्जलिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक); कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (कृतः अञ्जलिः)

• कृतसम्पूर्णव्रतकः: one who has completed the vow
• कृतसम्पूर्णव्रतकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत-सम्पूर्ण-व्रतक (प्रातिपदिक); कृत (कृदन्त) + सम्पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-प्रधानः (सम्पूर्णं व्रतं कृतवान्)

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having bowed’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb: again)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages, within the Kotirudra context of Jyotirlinga observances)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Koṭirudra-saṃhitā frames vrata-completion as a means to approach Śiva at liṅga-kṣetras; this verse gives the concluding posture of surrender (praṇāma/añjali) rather than a specific sthala origin.

Significance: Completion of vrata culminates in repeated namaskāra and heartfelt prārthanā, orienting the bound soul (paśu) toward Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the fruit of a vow is sealed by humility and surrender—after disciplined observance, the devotee turns the merit toward Śiva through heartfelt prayer and repeated bowing, expressing bhakti and śaraṇāgati (taking refuge in Pati, the Lord).

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

In Jyotirlinga and Liṅga worship, external rites culminate in inner devotion: standing with añjali and offering namaskāra again and again affirms Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who receives the devotee’s completed vrata and grants grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Conclude the vrata with añjali-mudrā, repeated namaskāra (prostration), and sincere prayer to Śambhu—optionally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as the inward completion of the observance.