Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 11

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

अतस्तद्विषशांत्यर्थं स्नानदानजपांश्चरेत् । विषशांत्यर्थकालत्वात्स कालः पुण्यदः स्मृतः

Transliteration

atastadviṣaśāṃtyarthaṃ snānadānajapāṃścaret | viṣaśāṃtyarthakālatvātsa kālaḥ puṇyadaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

因此，为了平息那毒，应当行沐浴净身之仪、布施，并诵持真言（japa）。由于此时正是为息毒而设的时刻，这一段时间便被忆念为能赐功德（puṇya）之时。

Word by Word

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atas (अतः, अव्यय)
• Form: Causal/ablatival adverb (हेत्वर्थ) ‘therefore’

• tat-viṣa-śānti-artham: for the purpose of pacifying that poison
• tat-viṣa-śānti-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śānti (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (श्रृङ्खला); Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• snāna-dāna-japān: bathing, giving (charity), and recitations
• snāna-dāna-japān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + japa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• caret: one should perform
• caret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (चर्, धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person, Singular; parasmaipada

• viṣa-śānti-artha-kālatvāt: because it is the time for the purpose of poison-pacification
• viṣa-śānti-artha-kālatvāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śānti (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (त्व)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; abstract noun in -त्व

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• kālaḥ: time/occasion
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• puṇya-daḥ: merit-giving
• puṇya-daḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + da (√dā/दा, धातु)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष; agentive in -da (‘giver’); Masculine, Nominative Singular; qualifying kālaḥ

• smṛtaḥ: is said/considered
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (स्मृ, धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative Singular; passive predication ‘is said’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames grahaṇa-kāla as remedial and merit-bearing when used for śānti (pacification) through snāna, dāna, and japa—turning a dangerous liminal time into a grace-opportunity.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: grahaṇa-kāla treated as viṣa-śānti-artha-kāla (time meant for pacification)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that when a harmful condition (symbolized as “poison”) arises, the Shaiva remedy is purification and re-alignment through snāna (outer-inner cleansing), dāna (selfless release of possessiveness), and japa (turning the mind to Shiva). Such a time becomes merit-producing because it is used for conscious spiritual correction.

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

Snāna, dāna, and japa are standard supports to Linga-upāsanā: bathing and purity prepare one for Shiva’s worship, charity expresses devotion and humility, and japa (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) steadies the mind in Saguna Shiva-bhakti, leading toward inner purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a purificatory bath, give charitable offerings according to capacity, and do steady mantra-japa—ideally with Shaiva discipline (cleanliness, restraint, and focused remembrance of Shiva).