Shloka 16

Devanagari script

पुष्ट्यर्थं चैव रक्षार्थं वारं कल्पितवान्प्रभुः । आयुष्करं ततो वारमायुषां कर्तुरेव हि

Transliteration

puṣṭyarthaṃ caiva rakṣārthaṃ vāraṃ kalpitavānprabhuḥ | āyuṣkaraṃ tato vāramāyuṣāṃ kartureva hi

Translation

For the sake of nourishment and for protection, the Lord ordained the sacred observance on that particular weekday. Therefore that weekday itself becomes a giver of longevity, because it is established by the very Maker and Lord of life-spans.

Word by Word

• puṣṭi-artham: for nourishment/prosperity
• puṣṭi-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन—purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्थी/प्रयोजन-तत्पुरुषः: ‘puṣṭyai arthaḥ’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (as purpose)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• rakṣā-artham: for protection
• rakṣā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन—purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रयोजन-तत्पुरुषः: ‘rakṣāyai arthaḥ’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे

• vāram: a boon / choice (vara)
• vāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kalpitavān: appointed / arranged
• kalpitavān: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kḷp (कॢप् धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (Perfect participle used finitely), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• āyuṣ-karam: life-giving / promoting longevity
• āyuṣ-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyuṣ (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘āyuṣaḥ karaḥ’—making life), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वारम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Anubandha (अनुबन्ध—sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: thereafter/then)

• vāram: the boon
• vāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āyuṣām: of lives / of lifespans
• āyuṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyuṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• kartuḥ: of the maker/creator
• kartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• hi: for, indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: for/indeed)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages, consistent with the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a jyotirliṅga; the verse explains Śiva’s institution of vāra (weekday/time-division) for puṣṭi (nourishment) and rakṣā (protection), and its āyuṣkara (longevity-giving) efficacy.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Institution of temporal order (vāra) as a cosmic regulation supporting longevity and stability.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that time itself (a designated weekday/observance) becomes spiritually potent when ordained for Śiva’s worship—granting puṣṭi (inner and outer flourishing) and rakṣā (protection), and supporting āyuṣ (life-force) as part of dharmic alignment with Pati (the Lord).

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

By emphasizing a Lord-ordained vrata tied to a specific day, the verse supports Saguna Śiva worship in time-bound forms—such as Linga-pūjā, abhiṣeka, and vrata—where disciplined devotion sanctifies the devotee’s life and steadies the mind toward Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observe a weekly Śiva-vrata on the prescribed day: perform Linga-pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), maintain purity and restraint, and dedicate the day to protection-oriented prayer and longevity-seeking devotion.