Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

संध्योवाच । उत्पन्नमात्रां मां दृष्ट्वा युवतीं मदनेरितः । अकार्षित्सानुरागोयमभिलाषं पिता मम

Transliteration

saṃdhyovāca | utpannamātrāṃ māṃ dṛṣṭvā yuvatīṃ madaneritaḥ | akārṣitsānurāgoyamabhilāṣaṃ pitā mama

Translation

Wika ni Sandhyā: “Sa sandaling ako’y lumitaw, ang aking ama—na ginising ni Kāma, ang diyos ng pagnanasa—ay tumingin sa akin na parang isang dalagang bata, at sinaklot ng pananabik na may halong pagkapit at pagnanasa.”

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्पन्न-मात्राम्: just-born
• उत्पन्न-मात्राम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्√पद् (धातु) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कृदन्त: क्त (past passive participle) ‘उत्पन्न’ + ‘मात्रा’ (just/only)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• युवतीम्: a young woman
• युवतीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; apposition to ‘माम्’

• मदन-ईरितः: impelled by Cupid
• मदन-ईरितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक) + ईरित (√ईर्/ईरय् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मदनेन ईरितः’ (impelled by Cupid)

• अकार्षीत्: drew/attracted
• अकार्षीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• स-अनुरागः: affectionate desire (with attachment)
• स-अनुरागः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपसर्ग ‘स-’ = ‘with’ (having)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अभिलाषम्: desire/longing
• अभिलाषम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिलाष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Sandhyā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Kama (Madana)
• Sandhyā
• Father (Prajāpati/Brahmā-context)

FAQs

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

It highlights kāma (desire) as a binding force (pāśa) that can eclipse discernment; Shaiva teaching urges mastery over desire so the soul (paśu) can turn toward Śiva (Pati) and liberation.

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

By showing the danger of uncontrolled passion, it indirectly points to Saguna Śiva worship (Liṅga-pūjā, mantra-japa) as a stabilizing discipline that purifies the mind and redirects longing into bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with mental restraint, along with simple Śiva-upāsanā such as offering water to the Liṅga and cultivating vairāgya (dispassion).