Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57

सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct

Prelude to Detailed Narrative

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं शंभौर्भ्रममानीय चेतसि । तदाज्ञया परीक्षां ते कृतवत्य स्मि राघव

Transliteration

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ śaṃbhaurbhramamānīya cetasi | tadājñayā parīkṣāṃ te kṛtavatya smi rāghava

Translation

لما سمعتُ قولَ شَمبهو، أدخلتُ عمدًا شكًّا في قلبي؛ وبأمرِه، يا راغهافا، أجريتُ لك اختبارًا.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used as object

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; ‘having heard’

• vacanam: speech/statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śambhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhramam: delusion/confusion
• bhramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ānīya: having brought/caused
• ānīya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-nī (आ + नी धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; ‘having brought/caused’

• cetasi: in (my) mind
• cetasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• tad: by that
• tad: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agreeing with ‘ājñayā’ in sense ‘by that’

• ājñayā: by (his) command
• ājñayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• parīkṣām: a test/examination
• parīkṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parīkṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• te: of you/for you
• te: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; enclitic pronoun

• kṛtavatī: (I) have done
• kṛtavatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवतु/क्तवती), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having done’

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• rāghava: O Rāghava (Rāma)
• rāghava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Sītā (Satī’s manifestation in the Rāmāyaṇa episode, as recalled within the Satīkhaṇḍa narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows that even doubt can be employed as a purposeful instrument under Śiva’s command, so that truth, virtue, and inner purity are revealed; the soul learns discernment and surrender to Pati (Śiva) rather than acting from ego.

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

Śambhu is approached here as Saguna—an accessible Lord who directs events for the devotee’s refinement; such narratives support devotional worship where the Lord’s grace guides the devotee through trials toward steadiness in faith.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined self-examination: before acting on suspicion, steady the mind with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offer the agitation of doubt into Śiva’s presence, seeking clarity rather than impulsive judgment.