Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

सतीचरिते पितृगृहे आशीर्वाद-वचनम् तथा यौवनारम्भः — Satī at her father’s house: blessings and the onset of youth

Devanagari script

आषाढस्य चतुर्दश्यां शुक्लायां कृष्णवाससा । बृहतीकुसुमैः पूजा रुद्रस्याकारि वै तया

Transliteration

āṣāḍhasya caturdaśyāṃ śuklāyāṃ kṛṣṇavāsasā | bṛhatīkusumaiḥ pūjā rudrasyākāri vai tayā

Translation

Au quatorzième jour lunaire de la quinzaine claire du mois d’Āṣāḍha, vêtue d’habits sombres, elle accomplit véritablement le culte du Seigneur Rudra, en offrant de grandes fleurs bṛhatī.

Word by Word

• āṣāḍhasya: of (the month) Āṣāḍha
• āṣāḍhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āṣāḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); मास-नाम

• caturdaśyām: on the fourteenth (tithi)
• caturdaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तिथि

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय)

• śuklāyām: in the bright (fortnight)
• śuklāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम्—caturdaśyām (in the bright fortnight)

• kṛṣṇa-vāsasā: with a black garment
• kṛṣṇa-vāsasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः—‘कृष्णं वासः’ (black garment)

• bṛhatī-kusumaiḥ: with bṛhatī blossoms
• bṛhatī-kusumaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhatī (प्रातिपदिक) + kusuma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘बृहत्याः कुसुमानि’

• pūjā: worship
• pūjā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• rudrasya: of Rudra
• rudrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• akāri: was performed
• akāri: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ, धातु)
• Form: Aorist passive (लुङ्, कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ‘was done/performed’

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/Emphasis (निपात)

• tayā: by her
• tayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)

FAQs

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

It highlights disciplined devotional worship (pūjā) of Rudra on an auspicious tithi (Śukla Caturdaśī), showing that sincere, rule-based bhakti expressed through offerings and observance becomes a means of grace and inner purification in the Shaiva path.

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

The verse exemplifies Saguna worship—approaching Rudra through a concrete ritual act with flowers and observances. In the Shiva Purana’s devotional framework, such pūjā naturally aligns with Liṅga-upāsanā, where offerings and timing sanctify the devotee’s relationship with Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observing Śukla Caturdaśī with Rudra-pūjā and floral offerings is implied; as a practical takeaway, one may pair the worship with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintain a simple vrata (restraint and purity) during the day.