Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 65

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

अर्कवारे तथार्द्रायां पञ्चदश्यां च पक्षयोः । अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां शक्तस्तूपवसेदपि

Transliteration

arkavāre tathārdrāyāṃ pañcadaśyāṃ ca pakṣayoḥ | aṣṭamyāṃ ca caturdaśyāṃ śaktastūpavasedapi

Translation

रविवारी, आर्द्रा नक्षत्राच्या दिवशी, दोन्ही पक्षांच्या पौर्णिमा/अमावास्येला, तसेच अष्टमी व चतुर्दशीला—जो समर्थ असेल त्याने या वेळी उपवासही करावा.

Word by Word

• अर्क-वारे: on Sunday
• अर्क-वारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; (रविवासरे)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय/तुल्य (also/likewise)

• आर्द्रायाम्: on (the day of) Ārdrā (nakṣatra)
• आर्द्रायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्द्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (नक्षत्रे)

• पञ्चदश्याम्: on the fifteenth lunar day
• पञ्चदश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (तिथौ)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय

• पक्षयोः: of the two fortnights (waxing and waning)
• पक्षयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• अष्टम्याम्: on the eighth lunar day
• अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (तिथौ)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth lunar day
• चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (तिथौ)

• शक्तः: one who is able
• शक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (कृदन्त/शक् धातु, PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (उपवसेत् कर्ता)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निपात (emphasis/contrast)

• उपवसेत्: should fast
• उपवसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-वास् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—अपि (also/even)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single jyotirliṅga; it gives vrata-kāla (auspicious observance times) for upavāsa supporting Śiva-upāsanā.

Significance: Fasting on specified tithi/nakṣatra days is presented as a purifier and stabilizer of sādhana, strengthening adhikāra for Śiva worship.

FAQs

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

It highlights disciplined devotion (vrata) through upavāsa on specially charged lunar and stellar timings, training the devotee’s senses toward Shiva-bhakti and inner purity, which supports liberation-oriented practice.

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

Fasting on these tithis and nakṣatra-days is traditionally paired with intensified Linga-pūjā—offering water, bilva, mantra-japa, and night vigil—directing the mind to Saguna Shiva as a doorway to realizing Shiva as the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Upavāsa (fasting) on Sundays, Ārdrā, aṣṭamī, caturdaśī, and pañcadaśī; practically, it is commonly accompanied by Om Namaḥ Śivāya japa, Rudrākṣa-wearing, and (where appropriate) Tripuṇḍra/bhasma with focused meditation on Shiva.