Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship

Devanagari script

सामरः प्रार्थितो ब्रह्मा ययौ देव्यास्तपोवनम् । संस्मरन्मनसा देवदुःखमोक्षं स्वयत्नतः

Transliteration

sāmaraḥ prārthito brahmā yayau devyāstapovanam | saṃsmaranmanasā devaduḥkhamokṣaṃ svayatnataḥ

Translation

وهكذا، لمّا أُلِحَّ على براهما في الدعاء، مضى إلى غابة تَنسُّك الإلهة، وهو يستحضر في قلبه كيف يمكن، بجهده هو، أن يُخلِّص الآلهة من حزنهم.

Word by Word

• सामरः: with the gods / accompanied by the gods
• सामरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सामर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• प्रार्थितः: requested, entreated
• प्रार्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रार्थय् (धातु) → प्रार्थित (कृदन्त, क्त/PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

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

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देव्याः: of the goddess
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तपोवनम्: the penance-grove (forest of austerities)
• तपोवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (tapasya vanam)

• संस्मरन्: remembering
• संस्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्मृ (धातु) → संस्मरन्त् (कृदन्त, शतृ/Present active participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (while remembering)

• मनसा: by/with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• देवदुःखमोक्षम्: release from the gods’ suffering
• देवदुःखमोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + दुःख + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devānāṃ duḥkhasya mokṣaḥ)

• स्वयत्नतः: by his own effort
• स्वयत्नतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व + यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) = “from/through one’s own effort”

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devi
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights purposeful spiritual responsibility: even exalted beings like Brahmā act with conscious resolve, seeking the Goddess in a tapovana and contemplating liberation from suffering—pointing to the Shaiva Siddhanta balance of earnest effort aligned with divine grace.

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

The verse shows the devotional approach to the Saguna divine—approaching the Goddess through tapas and prayerful intent. In Shaiva practice, this same orientation supports Linga-worship: humility, remembrance, and seeking divine intervention to remove duḥkha and grant auspiciousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mental remembrance (manasā saṃsmaraṇa) and disciplined tapas-oriented resolve are implied. A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with focused intention for duḥkha-nivṛtti, supported by simple Shaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and steady daily worship.