Shloka 35

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

वशिष्ठं संयतात्मानं सर्वज्ञं ज्ञानयोगिनम् । समीपे स्वे समासीनं वेदवेदाङ्गपारगम्

Transliteration

vaśiṣṭhaṃ saṃyatātmānaṃ sarvajñaṃ jñānayoginam | samīpe sve samāsīnaṃ vedavedāṅgapāragam

Translation

Nearby sat Vasiṣṭha—self-controlled, all-knowing, a yogin established in the path of knowledge—seated close at hand, and fully accomplished in the Vedas and their ancillary sciences.

Word by Word

• वशिष्ठम्: Vasiṣṭha
• वशिष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वशिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• संयत-आत्मानम्: self-restrained
• संयत-आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-यम् (धातु) → संयत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—संयतः आत्मा यस्य (self-controlled)

• सर्वज्ञम्: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—सर्वं जानाति इति (omniscient)

• ज्ञान-योगिनम्: a yogin of knowledge
• ज्ञान-योगिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—ज्ञानयोगे योगी (yogi of knowledge)

• समीपे: near
• समीपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (locative)

• स्वे: in (his) own
• स्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of समीपे: in one’s own vicinity)

• समासीनम्: seated
• समासीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘seated’

• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-पारगम्: master of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas
• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-पारगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—वेदेषु वेदाङ्गेषु च पारगः (one who has mastered the Vedas and Vedāṅgas)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Vasiṣṭha is portrayed as a jñāna-yogin and Veda-vedāṅga-pāraga, setting the stage for proper initiation and instruction; no Jyotirliṅga linkage is stated.

Significance: Affirms the necessity of qualified ācārya (guru) for spiritual discipline; pilgrimage here is ‘to the guru’ as much as to a place.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

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

The verse honors Vasiṣṭha as the ideal seer: disciplined in mind, grounded in jñāna-yoga, and perfected in sacred learning—showing that true spiritual authority arises from inner restraint and realized knowledge, which in Shaiva Siddhānta culminates in grace-oriented liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

By presenting a perfected ṛṣi as “jñānayogin” and Veda-versed, it frames Shiva worship (including Saguna forms like the Liṅga) as supported by right understanding and disciplined practice—devotion guided by knowledge rather than mere ritualism.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is saṁyama—restraint of senses and mind—paired with contemplative jñāna-yoga; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may integrate daily Shiva-japa (e.g., the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with disciplined conduct and study to purify the heart for devotion.