Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

सतीविरहानन्तरं शम्भोश्चरितम् / Śiva’s Conduct After Satī’s Separation

Devanagari script

दिगम्बरो बभूवाथ त्यक्त्वा गार्हस्थ्यसद्गतिम् । पुनर्बभ्राम लोकन्वै सर्वांल्लीलाविशारदः

Transliteration

digambaro babhūvātha tyaktvā gārhasthyasadgatim | punarbabhrāma lokanvai sarvāṃllīlāviśāradaḥ

Translation

তখন গার্হস্থ্য-আসক্তির ত্রুটিপূর্ণ পথ ত্যাগ করে তিনি দিগম্বর হলেন; আর লীলায় বিশারদ হয়ে পুনরায় সকল লোকমণ্ডলে বিচরণ করলেন।

Word by Word

• dig-ambaraḥ: one whose garment is the directions (naked ascetic)
• dig-ambaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dik (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then)

• tyaktvā: having abandoned
• tyaktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund), ‘having abandoned’

• gārhasthya-sad-gatim: the good course/state of householdership
• gārhasthya-sad-gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gārhasthya (प्रातिपदिक) + sat (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again)

• babhrāma: wandered
• babhrāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhram (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• lokān: worlds/people
• lokān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed)

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of lokān)

• līlā-viśāradaḥ: one skilled in divine play
• līlā-viśāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेषणरूपेण (of the subject)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights vairāgya: Shiva’s Digambara state signifies absolute freedom from possession and ego, teaching that liberation arises when attachment-driven “false courses” are abandoned and life is lived in alignment with Dharma and inner purity.

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

Digambara points to Shiva’s transcendence even while manifesting as Saguna for devotees. Linga-worship trains the mind to see the formless Pati (Shiva) within all forms, supporting the same detachment and inward turning implied by this renunciation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a simple Shaiva sādhana: wear or honor rudrākṣa, apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cultivate non-attachment and steadiness.