Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5
वसन्तस्वरूपवर्णनम् — Description of the Form/Nature of Vasant
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गृहीतदारे कामे च दृष्टे तेषु गतेषु च । संध्यायां किं तपस्तप्तुं गतायामभवत्ततः
gṛhītadāre kāme ca dṛṣṭe teṣu gateṣu ca | saṃdhyāyāṃ kiṃ tapastaptuṃ gatāyāmabhavattataḥ
When Kāma, having taken up his consort, was seen—and then, after they had departed—what scope remained for performing austerity at the twilight (Saṃdhyā)? Once that sacred hour had passed, what could be accomplished then?
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse stresses that spiritual effort must be done at the proper sacred time (sandhyā); once the moment of disciplined worship is lost to distraction—especially desire—repentance afterward cannot fully recover the missed inner merit.
Sandhyā is traditionally a prime time for Saguna Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Panchākṣarī, offering water and bilva, and mental worship of the Liṅga; the verse implies that neglecting this appointed worship-time weakens steadiness in devotion.
It points to sandhyā-sādhana: twilight japa (especially “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), dhyāna with restraint of senses, and regularity in daily worship—guarding the mind from kāma during the very hours meant for prayer.