Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

तीरस्थया तया रेजे तत्सरः कमलोज्ज्वलम् । उद्यदिंदुसुनक्षत्र प्रदोषे गगनं यथा

Transliteration

tīrasthayā tayā reje tatsaraḥ kamalojjvalam | udyadiṃdusunakṣatra pradoṣe gaganaṃ yathā

Translation

Standing upon the bank, she made that lotus-bright lake shine forth—just as, at twilight, the sky gleams with the rising moon and the beautiful host of stars.

Word by Word

• तीरस्थया: by/with (her) standing on the bank
• तीरस्थया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीरस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘तीरे स्थिता’ (standing on the bank)

• तया: by her
• तया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रेजे: shone
• रेजे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (रेजे)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (qualifying ‘सरः’)

• सरः: lake
• सरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कमलोज्ज्वलम्: bright with lotuses
• कमलोज्ज्वलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमल + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘कमलैः उज्ज्वलम्’ (bright with lotuses)

• उद्यत्: rising
• उद्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + या/इ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle used adjectivally), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘rising’

• इन्दु: moon
• इन्दु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (compound-member)

• सु-नक्षत्र: beautiful stars
• सु-नक्षत्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग); कर्मधारय: ‘सुन्दरं नक्षत्रम्’ (beautiful stars/constellations)

• प्रदोषे: at dusk/evening twilight
• प्रदोषे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गगनम्: sky
• गगनम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक अव्यय (as/like)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Satī narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Twilight at a lotus-lake is portrayed as a naturally sanctifying ‘dhyāna-bhūmi’, conducive to mantra-japa and inner recollection of Śiva.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Liminal pradoṣa transition; moonrise and star-appearance as cosmic markers.

Characters & Entities

• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Satī’s presence as inherently auspicious and purifying—her nearness makes the surroundings luminous, reflecting the Shaiva view that devotion and divine grace naturally illumine the inner and outer world.

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

Though the Linga is not directly mentioned, the imagery of radiance at twilight echoes how Saguna devotion makes the mind ‘shine’—preparing the devotee for focused worship, where the sacred is perceived through symbols, form, and beauty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is pradoṣa-bhakti: evening-time remembrance and japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using the calm of twilight to steady attention and contemplate Shiva’s grace reflected in purity and light.