Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

शरीरधृग्ब्रह्मचर्यं विलसंतं जटाधरम् । सादरं प्रणिपत्याथ संध्योवाच तपोधनम्

Transliteration

śarīradhṛgbrahmacaryaṃ vilasaṃtaṃ jaṭādharam | sādaraṃ praṇipatyātha saṃdhyovāca tapodhanam

Translation

Seeing that ascetic—radiant in the vow of brahmacarya, bearing matted locks, and sustaining the body with disciplined restraint—Sandhyā bowed down with reverence to that treasure-house of austerity, and then spoke.

Word by Word

• शरीर-धृक्-ब्रह्मचर्यम्: bodily celibacy/continence (brahmacarya)
• शरीर-धृक्-ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक् (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विलसन्तम्: shining, sporting, resplendent
• विलसन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying जटाधरम्/तपोधनम्)

• जटा-धरम्: the matted-haired one
• जटा-धरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• स-आदरम्: respectfully
• स-आदरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (adverbial compound), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरबोधक (particle: then/thereupon)

• संध्या: Sandhyā (name)
• संध्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• तपोधनम्: the ascetic rich in austerity (sage)
• तपोधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Satīkhaṇḍa story; the direct speaker within the verse is Sandhyā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva ethic of approaching realized ascetics with humility: reverence (praṇipāta) and disciplined conduct (brahmacarya, tapas) are portrayed as gateways to inner purity, making the soul fit for Shiva’s grace.

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

The ascetic’s jaṭā and radiance evoke Saguna Shiva’s yogic ideal; honoring such tapas-oriented embodiment supports Linga worship by cultivating surrender, purity, and steadiness—qualities central to approaching Shiva as Pati through symbol and form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests brahmacarya (sense-restraint), respectful prostration, and tapas as preparatory disciplines; as a practical takeaway, one may adopt a vow of restraint (especially on Mahāśivarātri), recite the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and worship with a humble mind.