Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

अथ तां नियतात्मानं तपसेति धृतोद्यमाम् । प्रोवाच मनसा स्मृत्वा शंकरं भक्तवत्सलम्

Transliteration

atha tāṃ niyatātmānaṃ tapaseti dhṛtodyamām | provāca manasā smṛtvā śaṃkaraṃ bhaktavatsalam

Translation

അവൾ ആത്മനിയമത്തോടെ തപസ്സിന് ദൃഢനിശ്ചയമെടുത്തിരിക്കുന്നതു കണ്ട ദക്ഷൻ, മനസ്സിൽ ഭക്തവത്സലനായ ശങ്കരനെ സ്മരിച്ചു കൊണ്ട്, അവളോടു പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/then (particle)

• tām: to her
• tām: Karma (कर्म/object of speaking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• niyata-ātmānam: self-controlled
• niyata-ātmānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifying tām)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (कृदन्त/ppp of √yam with ni-) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (नियतः आत्मा यस्य/नियतात्मा), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; epithet (contextually of her as ‘self-controlled’)

• tapase: for austerity
• tapase: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/purpose-recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative)

• dhṛta-udyamām: having taken up the effort
• dhṛta-udyamām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta (कृदन्त/ppp of √dhṛ) + udyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उद्यमं धृतवती), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to ‘tām’

• provāca: said (addressed)
• provāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• smṛtvā: having remembered
• smṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• śaṃkaram: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaram: Karma (कर्म/object of remembering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bhakta-vatsalam: affectionate to devotees
• bhakta-vatsalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भक्तेषु वत्सलः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to ‘śaṃkaram’

Speaker

Daksha

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha
• Sati

FAQs

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

It highlights that sincere tapas must be grounded in niyama (inner discipline) and supported by remembrance of Śiva, who responds to devotion as bhakta-vatsala—bestowing grace that ripens austerity into spiritual fruition.

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

By naming Śaṅkara as bhakta-vatsala, the verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—remembering and approaching Śiva as a compassionate Lord—an attitude central to Linga-worship where the devotee seeks Śiva’s accessible, grace-filled presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mental remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śiva before speech or action—practically done through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a disciplined vow (niyama) supporting tapas.