Shloka 20

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

ध्यायंती क्षणमेवाशु पूर्वं वृत्तं मनस्विनी । इदं विममृशे संध्या तस्मिन्काले यथोचितम्

Transliteration

dhyāyaṃtī kṣaṇamevāśu pūrvaṃ vṛttaṃ manasvinī | idaṃ vimamṛśe saṃdhyā tasminkāle yathocitam

Translation

ध्यायन्ती क्षणमेवाशु पूर्वं वृत्तं मनस्विनी। इदं विममृशे सन्ध्या तस्मिन्काले यथोचितम्॥

Word by Word

• dhyāyantī: meditating
• dhyāyantī: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (धातु) → dhyāyat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣaṇam: for a moment
• kṣaṇam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); duration-accusative

• eva: only, just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (शीघ्रार्थक-अव्यय)

• pūrvam: previous, earlier
• pūrvam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially: 'formerly/before'

• vṛttam: what happened, the event
• vṛttam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• manasvinī: the intelligent/strong-minded woman
• manasvinī: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vimamṛśe: considered, reflected upon
• vimamṛśe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-mṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃdhyā: Sandhyā
• saṃdhyā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmin: at that
• tasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāle: time
• kāle: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā-ucitam: as appropriate
• yathā-ucitam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; Neuter form functioning as indeclinable: 'as is proper'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakshinamurti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sati

FAQs

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

It highlights viveka (clear discernment) joined with bhakti—Satī pauses, reflects on the prior events, and then chooses the dharmically fitting response, showing that true devotion is steady and thoughtful, not impulsive.

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

Satī’s ‘proper resolve’ arises from unwavering allegiance to Saguna Shiva as her Lord; in Shaiva devotion, right action flows from remembrance of Shiva’s lordship (Pati) and the devotee’s duty to uphold His honor and dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies a brief inward dhyāna before action—mentally recollecting Shiva and choosing yathocita conduct; this aligns with pausing for mantra-smaraṇa (such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before undertaking a difficult decision.