Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

स्नानं मौनेन कर्तव्यं मौनेन हरपूजनम् । द्वयोः पूर्णजलाहारं प्रथमं षष्ठकालयोः

Transliteration

snānaṃ maunena kartavyaṃ maunena harapūjanam | dvayoḥ pūrṇajalāhāraṃ prathamaṃ ṣaṣṭhakālayoḥ

Translation

Việc tắm rửa phải được thực hiện trong im lặng, và việc thờ phụng Thần Hara (Śiva) cũng phải được thực hiện trong im lặng. Trong cả hai dịp, người ta chỉ nên dùng chế độ ăn hoàn toàn bằng nước.

Word by Word

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: कर्म/विधेय (Predicate object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; विधेयपदम् (predicate noun)

• मौनेन: by silence
• मौनेन: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/विधिलिङ्गार्थक कृदन्तः (Gerundive/तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘to be done/should be done’

• मौनेन: by silence
• मौनेन: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• हर-पूजनम्: worship of Hara (Śiva)
• हर-पूजनम्: कर्म/विधेय (Predicate object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (worship of Hara)

• द्वयोः: in the two (periods)
• द्वयोः: अधिकरण/सम्बन्ध (Locative/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विवचनान्त-रूपम्; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचनम्; ‘of/in the two’

• पूर्ण-जल-आहारम्: a regimen of only water (full water-intake)
• पूर्ण-जल-आहारम्: कर्म/विधेय (Predicate object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (diet consisting of full water only)

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• षष्ठ-कालयोः: in the two sixth-time periods (i.e., at the two ṣaṣṭha-kālas)
• षष्ठ-कालयोः: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (sixth-period times)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models a daily sādhana pattern (snāna + pūjā + regulated āhāra) that purifies the paśu and attenuates pāśa (bondage) through discipline.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that outer purity (snāna) must be joined with inner restraint (mauna). In Shaiva practice, silence steadies the mind, reduces distraction, and makes worship a direct offering of attention to Pati (Śiva), supporting sādhana aimed at liberation.

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

Silence during worship emphasizes reverent, concentrated pūjā to Saguna Śiva (Hara) as approached through forms like the Liṅga. The discipline of mauna and regulated intake helps the devotee maintain śuddhi (purity) and ekāgratā (one-pointedness), which are central to effective Liṅga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It prescribes mauna while bathing and performing Śiva-pūjā, along with jalāhāra (water-only fasting) at specified daily times (the first and sixth kāla). Practically, this pairs vrata-style fasting with quiet, focused worship—often complemented in Shaiva observance by mantra-japa (e.g., the Panchākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) though not explicitly stated in the verse.