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Shloka 9

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

शिव उवाच । भूरि व्रतानि मे सन्ति भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदानि च । मुख्यानि तत्र ज्ञेयानि दशसंख्यानि तानि वै

śiva uvāca | bhūri vratāni me santi bhuktimuktipradāni ca | mukhyāni tatra jñeyāni daśasaṃkhyāni tāni vai

Śiva said: “Many vows of mine exist, bestowing both worldly enjoyment (bhukti) and liberation (mukti). Among them, the principal ones should be known—truly, they are ten in number.”

शिवःŚiva
शिवः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशिव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√वच् (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
भूरिmany
भूरि:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणार्थ)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभूरि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
Formपरिमाणवाचक अव्यय (indeclinable quantifier)
व्रतानिvows
व्रतानि:
Karta (कर्ता; ‘exist’)
TypeNoun
Rootव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)
मेmy
मे:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)
सन्तिare / exist
सन्ति:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अस् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदानिgranting enjoyment and liberation
भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदानि:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootभुक्ति + मुक्ति + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (भुक्ति-मुक्ति) इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व + ‘प्रदानि’ (giving) — ‘giving enjoyment and liberation’
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय
मुख्यानिprincipal
मुख्यानि:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
तत्रamong them / there
तत्र:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण-देश)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक अव्यय (there/in that set)
ज्ञेयानिto be known
ज्ञेयानि:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Root√ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त; भाव्य/gerundive)
Formयत्-प्रत्ययान्त विधेय/भाव्य कृदन्त (to be known); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
दशसंख्यानिten in number
दशसंख्यानि:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदश + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश संख्या यस्य/येषाम्) — ‘ten in number’
तानिthose
तानि:
Karta (कर्ता; copular)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
वैindeed
वै:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (emphasis)

Lord Shiva

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Significance: Śiva as Pati declares multiple vrata-upāyas; the ‘ten principal’ function as structured disciplines that ripen the soul for grace (anugraha) culminating in mukti.

Role: teaching

S
Shiva

FAQs

This verse frames Śiva’s vratas as a disciplined path that can yield both bhukti (ordered worldly well-being) and mukti (release). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, observance purifies the pashu (bound soul) and loosens pasha (bondage), preparing the devotee for Śiva’s grace.

By declaring “my vows,” Śiva points devotees toward concrete Saguna forms of worship—vrata, pūjā, and disciplined conduct—often centered on the Śiva-liṅga. Such structured observances steady devotion and make the mind fit for realizing Śiva as both immanent (Saguna) and transcendent (Nirguna).

The verse introduces a set of key Śaiva vratas (ten principal observances). As a practical takeaway, one may adopt regular vrata discipline alongside core Śaiva supports such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and traditional purity markers like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.