Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 8

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

शुद्धात्मनः शुद्धदिनं पुण्यं समफलं विदुः । तस्माद्दशगुणं ज्ञेयं रविसंक्रमणे बुधाः

Transliteration

śuddhātmanaḥ śuddhadinaṃ puṇyaṃ samaphalaṃ viduḥ | tasmāddaśaguṇaṃ jñeyaṃ ravisaṃkramaṇe budhāḥ

Translation

The wise know that for a purified soul, a pure (holy) day yields meritorious fruit in equal measure. Therefore, the learned declare that at the Sun’s transition into a new zodiac sign (saṅkramaṇa), the merit is to be understood as tenfold.

Word by Word

• śuddha-ātmanaḥ: of the pure-souled (person)
• śuddha-ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śuddha-dinam: a pure day
• śuddha-dinam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• puṇyam: meritorious
• puṇyam: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानाधिकरण/Predicate to object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used predicatively (विशेषण)

• sama-phalam: of equal result
• sama-phalam: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used predicatively

• viduḥ: they know/declare
• viduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद्, धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna-nimitta (हेतु/अपादान-निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तस्मात्-प्रयोगः), meaning ‘therefore/from that’

• daśa-guṇam: tenfold
• daśa-guṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (संख्या-सम्बन्ध); Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• jñeyam: should be known (as)
• jñeyam: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा, धातु) + -ya (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligative (तव्यत्/यत्-अर्थे ‘to be known’); Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular (प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन) agreeing with daśaguṇam

• ravi-saṃkramaṇe: at the sun’s transit (saṅkrānti)
• ravi-saṃkramaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkramaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• budhāḥ: the wise (people)
• budhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvara-saṃhitā’s Kāśī-centered frame, merit (puṇya) accrues with special potency when acts are timed to cosmic thresholds; such kāla-viśeṣa is treated as a grace-bearing condition for Śiva-bhakti and dāna, resonant with Kāśī Viśvanātha’s role as the liberating Lord of the kṣetra.

Significance: Timing śiva-pūjā, snāna, dāna, and japa on saṅkramaṇa is presented as yielding amplified puṇya, supporting purification (mala-kṣaya) and readiness for Śiva’s anugraha.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: ravi-saṅkramaṇa (solar ingress into a new rāśi)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Surya

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner purity (śuddhātman) is the true multiplier of spiritual merit, and that sacred time—especially the Sun’s saṅkramaṇa—supports worship by amplifying its fruit, aligning the devotee with dharma and Shiva’s grace.

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

In Linga-worship, external rites become fully fruitful when the worshipper is inwardly purified; the verse highlights that choosing auspicious timings like saṅkramaṇa enhances offerings, japa, and abhiṣeka directed to Saguna Shiva as the accessible form of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-upāsanā on saṅkramaṇa—such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya japa, Linga abhiṣeka with water (and if traditional, milk), and wearing bhasma/tripuṇḍra with a purified mind—understanding the observance is regarded as tenfold in merit.