Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins

Devanagari script

अष्टाभ्यां च चतुर्दश्यां पौर्णमास्यां विशेषतः । एकादश्यां च विधिवदुपवासोममार्चनम्

Transliteration

aṣṭābhyāṃ ca caturdaśyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ viśeṣataḥ | ekādaśyāṃ ca vidhivadupavāsomamārcanam

Translation

ในวันขึ้น/แรม ๘ ค่ำ วัน ๑๔ ค่ำ และโดยเฉพาะวันเพ็ญ รวมทั้งวันเอกาทศีด้วย—พึงถืออุโบสถอดอาหารตามพิธี และบูชาอรจนาแด่เรา คือพระศิวะ ตามครรลอง

Word by Word

• अष्टाभ्याम्: on the eighth (day) / with the two eights (contextually: on the eighth)
• अष्टाभ्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (संख्यावाचक), तृतीया (3rd/करण), द्विवचन; संख्याशब्द

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth (lunar day)
• चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (चतुर्दश + ई)

• पौर्णमास्याम्: on the full-moon day
• पौर्णमास्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर्णमासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: especially)

• एकादश्याम्: on the eleventh (lunar day)
• एकादश्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (एकादश + ई)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विधिवत्: properly / as prescribed
• विधिवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: according to rule)

• उपवासः: fasting
• उपवासः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उमाम्: Umā
• उमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• अर्चनम्: worship
• अर्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Observing upavāsa and Śiva-arcana on aṣṭamī, caturdaśī, paurṇimā and ekādaśī is presented as a rule-based means to purify karma and become fit for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined observances (vrata) like fasting on sacred tithis purify the pashu (bound soul) and turn the mind toward Pati (Śiva), making devotion steady and fit for grace.

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

The verse explicitly recommends arcanā (ritual worship) to Śiva—commonly performed as Liṅga-pūjā—showing Saguna worship as a valid, rule-based path that concentrates devotion and invites Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Observe upavāsa (fasting/regulated abstinence) on Aṣṭamī, Caturdaśī, Paurṇimā, and Ekādaśī, and perform Śiva-arcana with mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as per proper vidhi.