Shloka 42

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

नियमो यो महादेव कृतश्चैव त्वदाज्ञया । विसृज्यते मया स्वामिन्व्रतं जातमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

niyamo yo mahādeva kṛtaścaiva tvadājñayā | visṛjyate mayā svāminvrataṃ jātamanuttamam

Translation

O Mahādeva, the discipline I undertook solely by Your command—O Lord and Master—I now lay aside; the unsurpassed vow has been fulfilled.

Word by Word

• नियमः: observance/rule (vow-discipline)
• नियमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यः: which/that (who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• कृतः: performed/observed
• कृतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘done/made/observed’

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle: indeed/only)

• त्वत्: your
• त्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of you/your’ (त्वद्-आदेश)

• आज्ञया: by (your) command
• आज्ञया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विसृज्यते: is being relinquished
• विसृज्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is being released/let go’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-कारक (agent in passive)

• स्वामिन्: O Lord
• स्वामिन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जातम्: arisen/undertaken
• जातम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; व्रतम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed/excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्रतम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

A devotee/pilgrim addressing Lord Shiva (Mahadeva) within the Kotirudra Samhita Jyotirlinga pilgrimage narrative

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights niyama and vrata as acts of obedience to Mahādeva’s will, and teaches that a vow is spiritually complete when it culminates in surrender—relinquishing personal claim and offering the accomplishment back to Shiva (Pati).

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

In the Kotirudra (Jyotirlinga) context, the devotee addresses Saguna Shiva directly as Mahādeva and Swāmin, indicating personal, relational worship where vows and disciplines are performed as service to the Lord manifest as the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies a structured vrata with niyamas (regulated conduct), ending with formal completion and letting-go; practically, it aligns with concluding worship by offering the fruits to Shiva—often accompanied by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a final prayer of surrender.