Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

संध्यायाः शुद्धिः सूर्यलोकप्रवेशश्च — Purification of Sandhyā and Her Entry into the Solar Sphere

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठेन पुरा सा तु वर्णीभूत्वा महामुने । उपदिष्टा तपश्चर्तुं वचनात्परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

vasiṣṭhena purā sā tu varṇībhūtvā mahāmune | upadiṣṭā tapaścartuṃ vacanātparameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

हे महामुने, पूर्वी ती वर्णी (ब्रह्मचारिणी) झाली. परमेṣ्ठिन् (ब्रह्मा) यांच्या आज्ञेने वसिष्ठांनी तिला तपश्चर्या करण्याचा उपदेश केला.

Word by Word

• vasiṣṭhena: by Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-हेतुः), एकवचन

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• varṇī-bhūtvā: having become an ascetic student
• varṇī-bhūtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: varṇin (प्रातिपदिक) + √bhū (भू) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — ‘varṇī’ (brahmacārinī/ascetic student) + bhūtvā; ‘having become a female student/ascetic’

• mahā-mune: O great sage
• mahā-mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः— ‘mahān muniḥ’

• upadiṣṭā: was instructed
• upadiṣṭā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√diś (दिश्) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि— ‘was instructed’

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• artuṃ: to perform/practice
• artuṃ: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ṛ (ऋ) / √car (चर्) (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययकृदन्त; पाठभेद-सूचना: ‘tapaś cartum’ (√car) अधिक संगत— ‘to practice austerity’

• vacanāt: by the command/word
• vacanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; ‘from/according to the word’

• parameṣṭhinaḥ: of Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā)
• parameṣṭhinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vasistha
• Brahma
• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights tapas and brahmacarya as purifying disciplines that mature the soul (paśu) toward steadfast devotion, preparing one to receive Shiva’s grace (Pati-anugraha) and higher realization.

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

Although the Linga is not named here, the narrative frames disciplined tapas as the inner preparation for Saguna Shiva-upāsanā—making the mind fit for focused worship, mantra-japa, and later, Linga-centered devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is tapas grounded in brahmacarya: regulated living, restraint of senses, and sustained contemplation—often supported in Shaiva practice by japa of Shiva’s names (such as the Panchakshara) and disciplined worship.