Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites

Morning Purity & Bath Procedure

Devanagari script

नाशुचिर्धारयेदक्षं सदा कालेषु धारयेत् । इत्थं त्रिसंध्यमथवा द्विसंध्यं सकृदेव वा

Transliteration

nāśucirdhārayedakṣaṃ sadā kāleṣu dhārayet | itthaṃ trisaṃdhyamathavā dvisaṃdhyaṃ sakṛdeva vā

Translation

അശുചിയായിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ രുദ്രാക്ഷം ധരിക്കരുത്; യോജ്യമായ സമയങ്ങളിൽ തന്നെ എപ്പോഴും ധരിക്കണം. ഇങ്ങനെ ത്രിസന്ധ്യകളിൽ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ദ്വിസന്ധ്യകളിൽ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ദിവസത്തിൽ ഒരിക്കൽ പോലും (ധരിക്കാം)।

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable negation particle

• अशुचिः: an impure (person)
• अशुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘impure person’ as subject

• धारयेत्: should wear/hold
• धारयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ‘should wear/hold’

• अक्षम्: rudrākṣa bead / akṣa
• अक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb of time

• कालेषु: at times/occasions
• कालेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• धारयेत्: should wear
• धारयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; (he) should wear

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (‘thus/in this manner’)

• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: thrice daily (at three sandhyās)
• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + सन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; dvigu compound meaning ‘three-sandhyā (times)’ used adverbially (frequency)

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (alternative)

• द्विसन्ध्यम्: twice daily
• द्विसन्ध्यम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + सन्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; dvigu compound used adverbially

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (frequency)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable emphatic particle

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable disjunctive particle

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā teachings to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudraksha

FAQs

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

It teaches that rudrākṣa is not mere ornamentation but a disciplined Shaiva observance: purity and right timing (kāla) sanctify the act, aligning the devotee’s daily life with Śiva-oriented sādhanā.

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

Rudrākṣa is traditionally linked to devotion to Saguna Śiva and his worship through external supports—japa, pūjā, and vrata. Wearing it at sandhyā-times integrates the devotee’s routine with Linga-upāsanā and remembrance of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Wear rudrākṣa only after purification and at prescribed sandhyā-times—ideally thrice daily (dawn/noon/dusk), or twice, or at least once—supporting regular japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady Shaiva discipline.