Shloka 23

Vyāsotpatti-kathana

Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa

Devanagari script

रात्रौ व्यवायः कर्तव्यो न दिवेति श्रुतिर्जगौ । दिवासंगे महान्दोषो निन्दा चापि दुरासदा

Transliteration

rātrau vyavāyaḥ kartavyo na diveti śrutirjagau | divāsaṃge mahāndoṣo nindā cāpi durāsadā

Translation

The sacred teaching declares that conjugal union is to be undertaken at night and not in the daytime. For union by day brings a great fault, and it also invites blame that is hard to dispel.

Word by Word

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (locative of time: 'at night')

• व्यवायः: sexual intercourse
• व्यवायः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कर्तव्यः: should be done
• कर्तव्यः: विधेय (Predicate; obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• दिवा: in the daytime
• दिवा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/दिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (locative of time: 'in daytime')

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• श्रुतिः: scriptural teaching
• श्रुतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जगौ: declared / said
• जगौ: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• दिवा-सङ्गे: in daytime association/union
• दिवा-सङ्गे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवा (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्धः: 'daytime-connection'); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• दोषः: fault
• दोषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निन्दा: censure
• निन्दा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• दुरासदा: hard to bear/avoid
• दुरासदा: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + आसद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (predicate adjective to निन्दा)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Umā/teaching dharma as narrated within the Umāsaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches discipline (niyama) within household life: even permitted desires should be regulated so the mind remains sattvic and fit for Shiva-bhakti and inward purity on the path toward liberation.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes purity, restraint, and consecrated living; by avoiding conduct deemed blameworthy, a devotee protects their ritual and mental purity, making daily Shiva-puja more effective and reverent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sense-regulation and purity: keep a disciplined routine supportive of Shiva-sadhana—such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintaining cleanliness before puja—rather than indulgence at improper times.