Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 33
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”
संध्योवाच । यदि देयो वरः प्रीत्या वरयोग्यास्म्यहं यदि । यदि शुद्धास्म्यहं जाता तस्मात्पापान्महेश्वर
saṃdhyovāca | yadi deyo varaḥ prītyā varayogyāsmyahaṃ yadi | yadi śuddhāsmyahaṃ jātā tasmātpāpānmaheśvara
娑昙耶说道：“若因汝慈爱而当赐一愿；若我确为受愿之器，且我确已清净而生——那么，噢摩诃伊湿伐罗，请解脱我脱离诸罪。”
Sandhyā
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): the devotee appeals to Śiva’s grace to remove pāpa (sin/impurity), implying that true purification culminates in turning to Pati (Śiva) for liberation-oriented cleansing.
Sandhyā addresses Maheśvara personally, reflecting Saguna Śiva worship—approaching the Lord as compassionate and responsive. In Linga worship, this same attitude appears as heartfelt prayer before the Linga for inner purity and release from karmic stains.
A practical takeaway is a repentance-and-refuge prayer to Śiva alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and sincere resolve for purity; this aligns with Shaiva practice of seeking pāpa-kṣaya through devotion and remembrance.