Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 16

अग्नियज्ञ-देवयज्ञ-ब्रह्मयज्ञ-गुरुपूजा-क्रमनिरूपणम् / Ordering and Definitions of Agniyajña, Devayajña, Brahmayajña, and Guru-Pūjā

Devanagari script

पुष्ट्यर्थं चैव रक्षार्थं वारं कल्पितवान्प्रभुः । आयुष्करं ततो वारमायुषां कर्तुरेव हि

Transliteration

puṣṭyarthaṃ caiva rakṣārthaṃ vāraṃ kalpitavānprabhuḥ | āyuṣkaraṃ tato vāramāyuṣāṃ kartureva hi

Translation

पोषण और रक्षा के लिए प्रभु ने उस विशेष वार का व्रत निर्धारित किया। इसलिए वही वार आयु देने वाला होता है, क्योंकि वह आयु के कर्ता प्रभु द्वारा ही स्थापित है।

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

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.