Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

सतीसंक्षेपचरित्रवर्णनम् — Summary Description of Satī’s Narrative

Devanagari script

सोमा भूत्वा दक्षसुता तपः कृत्वा तु दुस्सहम् । रुद्रपत्न्यभवद्भक्त्या स्वभक्तहितकारिणी

Transliteration

somā bhūtvā dakṣasutā tapaḥ kṛtvā tu dussaham | rudrapatnyabhavadbhaktyā svabhaktahitakāriṇī

Translation

Als Somā geworden, vollzog die Tochter Dakṣas strenge, kaum erträgliche Askesen. Durch standhafte Hingabe wurde sie Rudras Gemahlin und wirkte stets zum Heil ihrer Verehrer.

Word by Word

• सोमा: Somā (name)
• सोमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (क्रियापूर्वक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भू (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल

• दक्ष-सुता: daughter of Dakṣa
• दक्ष-सुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दक्षस्य सुता), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रियापूर्वक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• दुस्सहम्: hard to endure
• दुस्सहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + सह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (दुः + सहः → दुस्सहः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of तपः)

• रुद्र-पत्नी: Rudra’s wife
• रुद्र-पत्नी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रुद्रस्य पत्नी), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + अभि
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• भक्त्या: through devotion
• भक्त्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्व-भक्त-हित-कारिणी: doer of good for her devotees
• स्व-भक्त-हित-कारिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (स्वभक्तानां हितं करोति इति), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of रुद्रपत्नी)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Sati
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere bhakti supported by disciplined tapas matures into divine proximity—Sati attains the state of Rudra’s consort and becomes a benefactress to devotees, showing grace follows devotion and endurance.

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

Rudra as Saguna Shiva is approached through devotion and observances; Sati’s tapas exemplifies the devotee’s steady orientation to the Lord, which in Linga-worship is expressed through regular pūjā, mantra, and vow-based discipline.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is tapas with bhakti—keeping vrata, japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and simple Shaiva disciplines such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadfast devotion.