Shloka 68

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women

Devanagari script

तौ शाण्डिल्यमुनेस्तात निदेशान्नियम स्थितौ । प्रदोषे चक्रतुः शम्भोः पूजां कृत्वा व्रतं शुभम्

Transliteration

tau śāṇḍilyamunestāta nideśānniyama sthitau | pradoṣe cakratuḥ śambhoḥ pūjāṃ kṛtvā vrataṃ śubham

Translation

اے عزیز، شاندِلیہ مُنی کے حکم کے مطابق ضبطِ نفس کے قواعد میں قائم رہ کر، اُن دونوں نے پرَدوش کے وقت شَمبھو کی پوجا کی؛ اور پوجا کر کے شُبھ ورت اختیار کیا۔

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• शाण्डिल्यमुनेः: of the sage Śāṇḍilya
• शाण्डिल्यमुनेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाण्डिल्य + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शाण्डिल्यः मुनिः)

• तात: O dear (sir)
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• निदेशात्: from (his) instruction
• निदेशात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• नियमस्थितौ: abiding in discipline
• नियमस्थितौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (स्था धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त + तत्पुरुषः (नियमे स्थितौ)

• प्रदोषे: at twilight (pradoṣa)
• प्रदोषे: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• चक्रतुः: they performed
• चक्रतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; व्रतम् इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse highlights pradoṣa-kāla Śiva-pūjā as a vrata; in many sthala traditions, pradoṣa worship is said to grant quick access to Śiva’s grace and removal of pāśa (bondage).

Significance: Pradoṣa-vrata is classically praised for pāpa-kṣaya and āyur-ārogya, culminating in Śiva-anugraha (liberating grace).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śambhu)
• Sage Śāṇḍilya

FAQs

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

It affirms that Shiva’s grace is approached through śraddhā (faith) expressed as niyama (disciplined observance), especially by honoring pradoṣa—an auspicious liminal time—where devoted worship and vrata purify the pashu (bound soul) and align it toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By naming Śambhu and emphasizing pūjā during pradoṣa, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—worship of Shiva with form and attributes—commonly performed to the Shiva-liṅga with offerings, mantra, and regulated conduct as taught by a guru or rishi.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Pradosha Shiva-puja with a vowed discipline (vrata): maintain niyamas (purity, restraint, truthfulness), worship at twilight with mantra-japa (traditionally the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and keep the vow’s observances as instructed by an authoritative teacher.