Shloka 19

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

अष्टमी सोमवारे च कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशी । शिवतुष्टिकरं चैतन्नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Transliteration

aṣṭamī somavāre ca kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśī | śivatuṣṭikaraṃ caitannātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Translation

സോമവാരത്തിൽ അഷ്ടമി വരികയും, കൃഷ്ണപക്ഷത്തിലെ ചതുര്ദശി വരികയും ചെയ്താൽ—ഈ അനുഷ്ഠാനം നിശ്ചയമായും ശിവനെ പ്രസന്നനാക്കുന്നതാണ്; ഇതിൽ കൂടുതൽ വിചാരം വേണ്ട.

Word by Word

• अष्टमी: the eighth lunar day (Aṣṭamī)
• अष्टमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; तिथि-नाम

• सोमवारे: on Monday
• सोमवारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कृष्णपक्षे: in the dark fortnight
• कृष्णपक्षे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण-पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (कृष्णः पक्षः)

• चतुर्दशी: the fourteenth lunar day (Caturdaśī)
• चतुर्दशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; तिथि-नाम

• शिवतुष्टिकरम्: causing Śiva's satisfaction
• शिवतुष्टिकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-तुष्टि-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य तुष्टिः) + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (तुष्टिं करोति)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एतत्: this (observance)
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश (this)

• न: not/no
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb of place: here/in this matter)

• कार्या: to be done/necessary
• कार्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कार्य (gerundive: to be done), स्त्रीलिङ्ग-रूपम्

• विचारणा: deliberation/inquiry
• विचारणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single jyotirliṅga; it specifies calendrical conditions (Aṣṭamī on Monday; Kṛṣṇa-pakṣa Caturdaśī) as especially pleasing to Śiva, aligning with vrata-timing traditions.

Significance: Highlights the power of properly timed vrata (tithi-vāra-saṃyoga) to attract Śiva’s prasāda.

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that certain sacred tithis—especially Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi and Monday-linked observances—are exceptionally potent for pleasing Pati (Śiva), strengthening bhakti and aligning the devotee’s discipline (vrata) with auspicious cosmic timing.

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

By highlighting specific lunar days for Śiva’s satisfaction, it supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—such as Liṅga-pūjā, abhiṣeka, and vrata—where devotion expressed through time-bound worship becomes a direct means to receive Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observing a Śiva-vrata on Aṣṭamī/Monday and especially on Krishna Paksha Caturdaśī (Mahāśivarātri context) with Liṅga-pūjā, abhiṣeka, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and, where traditional, Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa dhāraṇa.