Shloka 23

पार्वत्याः यात्रासंस्कारः तथा पातिव्रत्योपदेशः / Preparations for Girijā’s Auspicious Journey and the Teaching on Pātivratya

Devanagari script

पूजोपकरणं सर्वमनुक्ता साधयेत्स्वयम् । प्रतीक्षमाणावसरं यथाकालोचितं हितम्

Transliteration

pūjopakaraṇaṃ sarvamanuktā sādhayetsvayam | pratīkṣamāṇāvasaraṃ yathākālocitaṃ hitam

Translation

Without being instructed, she herself prepared all the requisites for worship, patiently awaiting the proper opportunity—doing what was beneficial and appropriate to the right time.

Word by Word

• पूजा-उपकरणम्: the requisites for worship
• पूजा-उपकरणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + उपकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘पूजायाः उपकरणम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; agrees with उपकरणम्

• अनुक्ता: without being told
• अनुक्ता: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु, PPP with negation)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘not told/without being instructed’ (subject understood: she)

• साधयेत्: should accomplish/prepare
• साधयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √साध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वयम्: by oneself
• स्वयम्: कर्ता (Agent-emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वार्थक अव्यय (reflexive adverb)

• प्रतीक्षमाणा: waiting
• प्रतीक्षमाणा: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतीक्षमाण (कृदन्त; √ईक्ष् धातु with prati-; शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘waiting’

• अवसरम्: opportunity
• अवसरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• यथा-काल-उचितम्: appropriate to the time
• यथा-काल-उचितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + उचित (कृदन्त; √वच्? actually √उच्/उचित as PPP from √वच् not; standard adjective ‘ucita’ from √वच्?; treated as प्रातिपदिक ‘उचित’)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव with यथा (‘according to’): ‘यथाकालम् उचितम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies हितम्/कार्य

• हितम्: what is beneficial
• हितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; thing to be done)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √धा ‘to place’ as PPP)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; used adjectivally ‘beneficial’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed as self-motivated seva: true devotion does not wait for external prompting but acts with patience, discernment, and what is spiritually beneficial at the proper time.

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

By stressing pūjopakaraṇa and kālocita conduct, it points to Saguna Shiva worship through orderly preparation for linga-puja—where inner devotion is supported by correct outer ritual timing and propriety.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare the worship materials in advance and perform Shiva puja at the appropriate time (e.g., pradoṣa or Mahāśivarātri), maintaining patient, steady remembrance of Shiva—optionally supported by pañcākṣara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya").