Shloka 15

Śivarātri-vrata Udyāpana-vidhi

Completion Rite for the Śivarātri Observance

Devanagari script

ऋत्विजश्च सपत्नीकान्वस्त्रालङ्कारभूषणैः । अलङ्कृत्य विधानेन दद्याद्दानं पृथक्पृथक्

Transliteration

ṛtvijaśca sapatnīkānvastrālaṅkārabhūṣaṇaiḥ | alaṅkṛtya vidhānena dadyāddānaṃ pṛthakpṛthak

Translation

According to the prescribed rite, he should honor the officiating priests (ṛtvij) together with their wives by adorning them with garments, ornaments, and jewelry; then he should duly give to each of them their respective gifts, separately.

Word by Word

• ṛtvijaḥ: priests
• ṛtvijaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtvij (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (छान्दस/पौराणिक प्रयोगे रूपम्); सामान्यतः ‘ऋत्विजः’ प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• sapatnīkān: together with their wives
• sapatnīkān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-patnīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘पत्नी सहिताः’ (those who have wives with them)

• vastra-alaṅkāra-bhūṣaṇaiḥ: with garments, ornaments, and adornments
• vastra-alaṅkāra-bhūṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + alaṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समाहार-द्वन्द्वः; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• alaṅkṛtya: having adorned
• alaṅkṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: alaṅ-kṛ (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having adorned)

• vidhānena: by the prescribed procedure
• vidhānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dānam: a gift/charity
• dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• pṛthak: separately
• pṛthak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately)

• pṛthak: each separately
• pṛthak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Lord Shiva is completed by dharmic conduct—especially respectful honoring of those who uphold the rite (ṛtviks) and generous, orderly charity (dāna), which purifies intention and supports auspicious worship.

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

In Linga worship, the outer ritual expresses inner bhakti; properly honoring the priests who conduct the Shiva-rite is treated as part of the prescribed upacāra, supporting Saguna Shiva worship through humility, service, and sanctified giving.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to include dāna as an integral limb of Shiva-pūjā—offer gifts respectfully and individually as per injunctions; if performing Mahāśivarātri or Jyotirliṅga worship, combine this with mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī) and disciplined observance.