Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

वीरभद्रक्रोधशमनं देवस्तुतिश्च

Pacification of Vīrabhadra and the Gods’ Hymn

Devanagari script

सीमन्तिनी हतधवा तव पूजनतः प्रभो । सौभाग्यमतुलं प्राप सोमवारव्रतात्सुतान्

Transliteration

sīmantinī hatadhavā tava pūjanataḥ prabho | saubhāgyamatulaṃ prāpa somavāravratātsutān

Translation

हे प्रभो! पतीहरित सीमंतिनीने तुझ्या पूजनाने अतुल सौभाग्य मिळविले आणि सोमवारव्रताने पुत्रप्राप्ती केली।

Word by Word

• सीमन्तिनी: the woman (sīmantinī)
• सीमन्तिनी: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीमन्तिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• हतधवा: widowed (husband-dead)
• हतधवा: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत-धव (प्रातिपदिक; हत + धव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः: ‘हतः धवः यस्याः’ (whose husband is dead)

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); 2nd person pronoun

• पूजनतः: from (your) worship
• पूजनतः: हेतु (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (Singular); हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause: ‘from/because of worship’)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular)

• सौभाग्यम्: good fortune
• सौभाग्यम्: कर्म (कर्म/Obj)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); सौभाग्यम्-विशेषण

• प्राप: obtained
• प्राप: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• सोमवारव्रतात्: from the Monday vow
• सोमवारव्रतात्: हेतु (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमवार-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; सोमवार + व्रत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (Singular); हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause/source)

• सुतान्: sons/children
• सुतान्: कर्म (कर्म/Obj)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Exemplum of vrata-phala: a widowed woman (Sīmantinī) attains saubhāgya and progeny through Śiva-pūjā and Somavāra-vrata, illustrating Śiva’s grace overriding adverse karma.

Significance: Somavāra-vrata is presented as a widely accessible sādhana for householders seeking auspiciousness (saubhāgya), putra-prāpti, and removal of duḥkha through Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sīmantinī

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva, as Pati (the Lord), responds to sincere bhakti with both inner auspiciousness and outer well-being—showing His grace can uplift even those in severe misfortune.

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

The verse highlights fruit-bearing worship (pūjā) of the Lord in an accessible, saguna mode—commonly expressed in the Purāṇa as Linga-worship and vowed observances like Somavāra-vrata.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observing Somavāra-vrata (Monday vow) with Śiva-pūjā—typically including mantra-japa (e.g., “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offerings, and disciplined conduct—aimed at receiving Śiva’s anugraha (grace).