सा च संध्या सुता मे हि मनोजाता पुराऽ भवत् । तपस्तप्त्वा तनुं त्यक्त्वा सैव जाता त्वरुंधती
sā ca saṃdhyā sutā me hi manojātā purā' bhavat | tapastaptvā tanuṃ tyaktvā saiva jātā tvaruṃdhatī
“That Sandhyā was indeed my daughter, formerly born from my mind. Having performed austerities and then relinquished that body, she herself was born again as the chaste Arundhatī.”
Brahmā
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: liberating
The verse presents tapas (disciplined austerity) as a transformative power: by purifying intention and karma, a jīva can relinquish an old embodiment and attain a nobler birth aligned with dharma—here exemplified by Sandhyā becoming Arundhatī, an icon of chastity and steadiness.
In Shaiva tradition, worship of Saguna Shiva (often through the Liṅga) emphasizes purification through vrata, self-restraint, and devotion. The narrative mirrors that ethic: tapas and renunciation refine the seeker’s conduct, making one fit for Shiva’s grace and for dharmic stability symbolized by Arundhatī.
A practical takeaway is vrata with tapas: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), simple fasting or restraint, and inner discipline—supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa where customary—as a means of purification and steadiness in dharma.