Shloka 116

Devanagari script

एकाहं वा नवाहं वा तथा मंडलमेव वा । यथायोग्यं प्रकुर्वीत कालदेशानुसारतः

Transliteration

ekāhaṃ vā navāhaṃ vā tathā maṃḍalameva vā | yathāyogyaṃ prakurvīta kāladeśānusārataḥ

Translation

Whether for a single day, for nine days, or for an entire maṇḍala-period, one should perform the observance in a fitting manner, in accordance with the time and the place.

Word by Word

• एकाहम्: for one day
• एकाहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + अहन्/अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘एक-अह’ = one day (duration)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक

• नवाहम्: for nine days
• नवाहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव + अहन्/अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘नव-अह’ = nine days

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (thus/also)

• मण्डलम्: (a) maṇḍala/ritual circle
• मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक

• यथा: as
• यथा: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• योग्यम्: appropriately
• योग्यम्: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/रीति)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of manner: ‘appropriately’)

• प्रकुर्वीत: should perform/do
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• काल-देश-अनुसारतः: according to time and place
• काल-देश-अनुसारतः: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काल + देश + अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तद्धितान्त (तस्) = ‘-तः’ (ablatival adverb); ‘कालदेशानुसार’ = according to time and place

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined yet compassionate Shaiva practice: the devotee’s vrata or sādhana should be sincere and properly aligned with real-life conditions, so devotion to Pati (Shiva) remains steady rather than forced or negligent.

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

Linga-worship is upheld through regular observance (pūjā, japa, vrata). This verse emphasizes choosing a sustainable period—ekāha, navāha, or maṇḍala—so Saguna worship becomes continuous and orderly, supporting inner purification and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake a Shiva-observance for 1 day, 9 days, or a maṇḍala cycle with appropriate daily discipline—typically including Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā, and regulated conduct—adjusted to one’s time and circumstances.