Shloka 4

Śivarātri-vrata Udyāpana-vidhi

Completion Rite for the Śivarātri Observance

Devanagari script

शिवरात्रिदिने प्राप्ते नित्यं संपाद्य वै विधिम् । शिवालयं ततो गत्वा पूजां कृत्वा यथाविधि

Transliteration

śivarātridine prāpte nityaṃ saṃpādya vai vidhim | śivālayaṃ tato gatvā pūjāṃ kṛtvā yathāvidhi

Translation

When the sacred day of Śivarātri arrives, one should duly complete the daily prescribed observances; then, going to Śiva’s temple, one should perform worship in the proper manner according to rule.

Word by Word

• शिवरात्रिदिने: on the day of Śivarātri
• शिवरात्रिदिने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवरात्रि + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘शिवरात्रेः दिनम्’ = day of Śivarātri)

• प्राप्ते: when it has come/arrived
• प्राप्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) used in locative absolute; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘when (it) has arrived’

• नित्यम्: daily/regularly
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• संपाद्य: having arranged
• संपाद्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√पद्/पाद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having prepared/arranged’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• विधिम्: the procedure/rite
• विधिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवालयम्: Śiva’s temple
• शिवालयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘शिवस्य आलयः’ = abode/temple of Śiva)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter/from there)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having gone’

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having done/performed’

• यथाविधि: according to the prescribed method
• यथाविधि: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb) ‘according to rule’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General injunction: complete nitya-karma first, then proceed to Śiva’s temple for yathāvidhi-pūjā on Śivarātri.

Significance: Frames temple-worship as the proper locus for receiving Śiva’s grace on Śivarātri, after purification through nitya-vidhi.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śivarātri worship is not separate from dharma: one should first be steady in daily discipline (nitya-vidhi) and then approach Śiva with orderly, reverent devotion, which purifies the soul and strengthens bhakti toward Pati (Lord Śiva).

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

By directing the devotee to go to Śiva’s temple and perform pūjā as prescribed, it emphasizes Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through the temple presence, commonly as the Śiva-liṅga, with proper ritual sequence and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends following the standard Śiva-pūjā vidhi on Śivarātri—after completing daily observances—such as orderly worship with mantra and offerings; this can be supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") where customary.