Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । सुतवर्य महाप्राज्ञ शृणु संध्यातपो महत् । यच्छ्रुत्वा नश्यते पापसमूहस्तत्क्षणाद्ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | sutavarya mahāprājña śṛṇu saṃdhyātapo mahat | yacchrutvā naśyate pāpasamūhastatkṣaṇāddhruvam

Translation

Phạm Thiên nói: Hỡi bậc ưu tú trong hàng Sūta, hỡi người đại trí, hãy lắng nghe pháp tu Sandhyā (thờ phụng lúc hoàng hôn) cao cả. Chỉ cần nghe điều ấy, toàn bộ khối tội lỗi chắc chắn tiêu tan ngay tức khắc.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुतवर्य: O best of sons
• सुतवर्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठः सुतः’ = ‘best of sons’

• महाप्राज्ञ: O greatly wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; ‘very wise’

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संध्यातपः: Sandhyā’s austerity
• संध्यातपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘संध्यायाः तपः’ = ‘austerity of Sandhyā’

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying संध्यातपः)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक—‘which’ (object of श्रुत्वा)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having heard’

• नश्यते: perishes
• नश्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पापसमूहः: the collection of sins
• पापसमूहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + समूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘पापानां समूहः’ = ‘mass of sins’

• तत्क्षणात्: from that instant
• तत्क्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from that very moment’

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative: certainly)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Functions as a phalaśruti-style proclamation: merely hearing about Sandhyā-tapas destroys sins instantly, presenting śravaṇa as a grace-bearing gateway to Śiva-oriented discipline.

Significance: Frames śravaṇa (hearing sacred teaching) as immediate pāpa-kṣaya and as preparation for sustained practice leading toward Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It proclaims that even hearing the teaching on Sandhyā-tapas has immediate purifying power, emphasizing Shaiva purification (śuddhi) as the foundation for devotion and liberation-oriented practice.

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

Sandhyā discipline steadies the mind and cleanses impurities, making the devotee fit for Saguna Shiva worship—such as Linga-pūjā—where purity, attention, and reverence are central.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular Sandhyā worship at dawn and dusk (prayer, japa, and contemplative discipline); it can be paired with Shaiva japa like “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple purity observances.