Shloka 42

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”

Devanagari script

प्रथमं शैशवो भावः कौमाराख्यो द्वितीयकः । तृतीयो यौवनो भावश्चतुर्थो वार्द्धकस्तथा

Transliteration

prathamaṃ śaiśavo bhāvaḥ kaumārākhyo dvitīyakaḥ | tṛtīyo yauvano bhāvaścaturtho vārddhakastathā

Translation

Keadaan pertama ialah masa bayi; yang kedua disebut masa kanak-kanak. Keadaan ketiga ialah masa muda, dan yang keempat pula ialah masa tua.

Word by Word

• prathamam: first/firstly
• prathamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); adverbial use (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)

• śaiśavaḥ: childhood (pertaining to infancy)
• śaiśavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaiśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• bhāvaḥ: state/phase
• bhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• kaumāra-ākhyaḥ: called 'kaumāra' (boyhood)
• kaumāra-ākhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaumāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'kaumārasya ākhyaḥ' = named 'kaumāra'

• dvitīyakaḥ: second
• dvitīyakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tṛtīyaḥ: third
• tṛtīyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• yauvanaḥ: youthful (youth)
• yauvanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yauvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhāvaḥ: state/phase
• bhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• caturthaḥ: fourth
• caturthaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vārddhakaḥ: old-age (pertaining to senescence)
• vārddhakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vārddhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tathā: thus/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle/adverb (निपात/क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

By listing infancy, childhood, youth, and old age, the text highlights the changing nature of embodied life, encouraging vairagya (dispassion) and steadiness in devotion to Pati (Shiva), who alone is unchanging.

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

As the body passes through stages, Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upasana—serves as a stable spiritual anchor, directing the mind from transient conditions toward Shiva, the constant Lord beyond change.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha, using awareness of life’s stages to deepen remembrance and detachment.