Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । उपविश्य वसिष्ठोथ संध्यायै तपसः क्रियाम् । तामाभाष्य यथान्यायं तत्रैवांतर्दधे मुनिः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | upaviśya vasiṣṭhotha saṃdhyāyai tapasaḥ kriyām | tāmābhāṣya yathānyāyaṃ tatraivāṃtardadhe muniḥ

Translation

Brahmā said: Then Vasiṣṭha, having sat down, performed the austerity-laden rite of the Sandhyā (twilight worship). Having duly instructed (her) in that practice according to proper rule, the sage disappeared from that very place.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उपविश्य: having sat down
• उपविश्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + विश् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-आदेश)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having sat down’

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/अनन्तर्यसूचक अव्यय (then/now)

• संध्यायै: for Sandhyā (goddess)
• संध्यायै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• क्रियाम्: the rite/action
• क्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आभाष्य: having addressed
• आभाष्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + भाष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-आदेश)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having addressed/spoken to’

• यथा: according to
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (as/according to)

• न्यायम्: proper rule/justice
• न्यायम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘यथान्यायम्’ = ‘as is proper’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण निपात (indeed/just)

• अन्तर्दधे: disappeared
• अन्तर्दधे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर् + धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘disappeared/withdrew’

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Vasiṣṭha as a guru who transmits proper Sandhyā-vidhi and then becomes invisible, highlighting the guru’s role as a conduit of Śiva’s grace (anugraha) through right practice.

Significance: Emphasizes śuddhi (purificatory discipline) and adhikāra (fitness) for Śiva-bhakti through nitya-karma (Sandhyā).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: null

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vasistha
• Sandhya

FAQs

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

It highlights nitya-kriyā (daily sacred discipline): Sandhyā worship and tapas purify the soul (paśu) and make it fit for Shiva’s grace (Pati-anugraha), showing that liberation-oriented devotion is supported by regular dharmic practice.

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

Sandhyā worship establishes inner purity, mantra-readiness, and steadiness of mind—foundational qualifications for Saguna Shiva worship such as Linga-pūjā, japa, and vrata observances emphasized throughout the Rudrasaṃhitā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sandhyā-vandana (twilight worship) performed with tapas—regular prayer, mantra recitation, and disciplined conduct; as a Shaiva takeaway, it supports steady japa (including the Panchākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) and purity before Shiva worship.