Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

त्रेतायाः प्रथमे भागे जाता दक्षस्य कन्यका । वाक्पाश्शीलसमापन्ना यथा योग्यं विवाहिताः

Transliteration

tretāyāḥ prathame bhāge jātā dakṣasya kanyakā | vākpāśśīlasamāpannā yathā yogyaṃ vivāhitāḥ

Translation

Vào phần đầu của Tretā-yuga, các ái nữ của Dakṣa được sinh ra. Đầy đủ lời nói đoan trang, sự tiết chế khiêm cung và hạnh kiểm tốt lành, họ được gả cho những phu quân xứng hợp, đúng theo lễ nghi.

Word by Word

• त्रेतायाः: of the Tretā (age)
• त्रेतायाः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• प्रथमे: in the first
• प्रथमे: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘भागे’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भागे: part/portion
• भागे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time-part)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• जाता: was born
• जाता: क्रियापद (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कन्यका’ इत्यस्य विधेयविशेषणम्

• दक्षस्य: of Dakṣa
• दक्षस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• कन्यका: a daughter/maiden
• कन्यका: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाक्-पाश-शील-समापन्ना: endowed with the qualities of speech, restraint, and good conduct
• वाक्-पाश-शील-समापन्ना: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक) + समापन्न (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (वाक्पाशं शीलं यस्याः/वाक्पाशशीलयुक्ता) — अर्थतः गुणसम्बन्धः

• यथा: as
• यथा: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकारवाचक/relative adverb: ‘as/in the manner’)

• योग्यम्: properly
• योग्यम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative: ‘appropriately/fitly’)

• विवाहिताः: were married off
• विवाहिताः: क्रियापद (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √वह् (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (स्त्रीलिङ्गे ‘विवाहिताः’ पाठभेदे ‘विवाहिताः/विवाहिताः’—अत्र बहुवचन-समूहवाचक)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Genealogical/itihāsa framing: Dakṣa’s progeny and their marriages set up later cosmic imbalance (Moon’s partiality) and the need for remedial grace.

Significance: Didactic value: dharma of vivāha (propriety, suitability) and the social order that becomes a stage for cosmic correction.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Tretā-yuga (early portion)

Characters & Entities

• Daksha

FAQs

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

It frames social dharma—right conduct, disciplined speech, and proper life-order—as the outward foundation that later contrasts with Dakṣa’s inner pride; in Shaiva thought, mere propriety without devotion to Pati (Śiva) can still bind the soul through pāśa (limiting bonds).

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

By highlighting ‘pāśa’ (restraint/bond), the verse subtly anticipates the Shaiva theme that true freedom comes from turning disciplined life toward Saguna Śiva (Linga-worship and devotion), not merely maintaining worldly order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is mastery of speech and conduct (vāk-śuddhi and śīla) as preparatory discipline; paired with Shaiva practice, this is best supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and regular worship with inner restraint.