Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

एकाशनं वा विरतं स्नातं प्रातःकृतक्रियम् । जपंतं प्रणवं देवं ध्यायंतं कृतमंगलम्

Transliteration

ekāśanaṃ vā virataṃ snātaṃ prātaḥkṛtakriyam | japaṃtaṃ praṇavaṃ devaṃ dhyāyaṃtaṃ kṛtamaṃgalam

Translation

Qu’il soit de ceux qui ne prennent qu’un seul repas — ou qui vivent dans l’abstinence —, qu’il se soit baigné et ait accompli les observances du matin; qu’il répète en japa le Praṇava (Oṁ), médite le Seigneur (Śiva) et demeure établi dans l’auspice par des rites sanctifiants.

Word by Word

• eka: single
• eka: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (in compound; 'one/single')

• āśanam: single meal
• āśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (एकं च तत् आशनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut acc sg)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• viratam: abstinent/restrained
• viratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-ram (धातु) → virata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut acc sg; 'abstained')

• snātam: bathed
• snātam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snā (धातु) → snāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut acc sg)

• prātaḥ: in the morning
• prātaḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prātaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (time adverb: in the morning)

• kṛta: performed
• kṛta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रातिपदिक (in compound; 'done/performed')

• kriyam: one who has done morning rites
• kriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रातःकृतक्रिया = प्रातः कृताः क्रियाः यस्य/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut acc sg)

• japantam: chanting
• japantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jap (धातु) → japant (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc acc sg; 'chanting')

• praṇavam: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc acc sg)

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc acc sg)

• dhyāyantam: meditating
• dhyāyantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhyai (धातु) → dhyāyant (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc acc sg; 'meditating')

• kṛta: done
• kṛta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रातिपदिक (in compound; 'done')

• maṅgalam: one who has performed auspicious acts
• maṅgalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कृतमङ्गल = कृतं मङ्गलं येन/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut acc sg)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ (praṇava)

Type: gayatri

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva discipline of purification and inner alignment: bodily cleanliness, completion of daily rites, and then steady japa and dhyāna on Shiva—so the seeker becomes fit for grace and liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna-focused practice—meditating on the Lord and performing auspicious rites—while using the Praṇava as a mantra support that leads the mind from ritual form toward deeper contemplative absorption.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Single-meal or abstinence (vrata-like restraint), morning bath and observances, followed by japa of Oṁ (Praṇava) and meditation on Shiva, maintaining a sanctified, auspicious state of mind.