Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

मेधातिथेस्सुता भूत्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठस्य धीमती । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानवचनाच्चरितव्रता

Transliteration

medhātithessutā bhūtvā muniśreṣṭhasya dhīmatī | brahmaviṣṇumaheśānavacanāccaritavratā

Translation

Ia menjadi putri Medhātithi, resi utama yang bijaksana. Menurut sabda Brahmā, Viṣṇu, dan Maheśāna (Śiva), ia menjalankan laku tapa dan kaulnya dengan setia.

Word by Word

• मेधातिथेः: of Medhātithi
• मेधातिथेः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधातिथि (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन (genitive)

• सुता: daughter
• सुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• मुनिश्रेष्ठस्य: of the best sage
• मुनिश्रेष्ठस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (of the best of sages)

• धीमती: intelligent
• धीमती: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied subject)

• ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशान: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśa
• ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशान: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśa)

• वचनात्: from the command/word
• वचनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; अपादान (source/cause)

• चरितव्रता: one who observed her vow
• चरितव्रता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चरित + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (she whose vow is practiced/observed; i.e., of practiced vows)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Medhatithi

FAQs

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

It highlights that steadfast vrata (sacred discipline) aligned with divine instruction purifies the soul (paśu) and prepares it to receive Śiva’s grace, a key Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis on right conduct supporting liberation.

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

By stressing obedience to Maheśāna’s guidance and vowed practice, the verse supports Saguna Śiva worship where devotion is expressed through regulated observances—fasts, purity, and ritual discipline—often centered on Śiva-linga pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is vrata-niyama: undertake a Śiva-oriented vow (fasting, purity, daily worship), accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” as a disciplined path to Śiva’s anugraha (grace).